FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

This story contains scenes of MxM homosexual acts. If you're not into MxM, gay, or furry, don't read. If you are under 18 (21 in some states) or your locality prohibits looking at subjects of a pornographic nature, don't read. Otherwise, please enjoy.

Characters and story by SpikeFoxx

[email protected]

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He frowned, rolling over. The window was open, and he could hear sea gulls crying outside, accompanied by waves hitting the shore in the distance. The husky cracked one eye, looking around the room. The clock on the wall proclaimed it was just after eight. It was his last day of summer vacation; he did NOT want to be up this early.

Moving onto his back, he let his right paw fall over across the bed where he expected to feel his mate; but the bed was empty. Looking over, the otter was definitely missing. Cody sighed, not wanting to sit up; not even wanting to be awake, just having the urge to close his eyes and let his mate be the weird little morning person he is. But at length he rose himself into a sitting position, the blankets still draped over his nude body. At first he had felt weird sleeping naked in his boyfriend's parent's house, but after awhile realized that, unlike his own parents, they respected their son's privacy. Come to think of it, they'd been nothing but supportive since the day Cody and DJ had arrived. The entire summer had been incredible; but nothing had been quite like getting caught on the island in that thunderstorm.

Cody cast off the sheets, scratching his stomach and rubbing his sheath. He knew DJ was going to want to go for one last roll in the hay, such as it were, before they departed for Gryffin. They were going to have to leave at six the next morning. The dorm students had an extra day at the college without classes to get settled back in. Cody was hoping they would just get a double room this time; there were too many bad memories in that old room, and he didn't want another room mate.

Getting on his feet, Cody padded across the room, picking up a pair of boxers and a black T-shirt, pulling both of them on. He figured maybe DJ had gone down to breakfast; when DJ had told him his mother served breakfast early, he wasn't kidding. He was just putting his had on knob and opening the door, when he heard, "Out here, hon."

Cody closed the door, looking over his shoulder. Through the billowing curtains that were caught in the gentle, steady breeze, he could just make out the silhouette of his mate standing on the balcony. He walked over to the archway, parting the curtains. His mate was bent over the balcony railing, looking down at the ocean. The otter turned to Cody, smiling. "Good morning."

Cody smiled wide. "Hi." His mate always just swept him off his feet over and over again. The tan fur with his cute caramel belly (which Cody happened to know extended down over his crotch), his emerald eyes, toned, lithe body, and his smile; that smile just seemed to go on and on forever. A gentle breeze ruffled his headfur, and sunlight glinted off his body like gold.

DJ was shirtless, with a pair of blue swimming shorts and sunglasses on. He held his paw out to Cody and the husky took it, standing next to him. The otter kissed his mate on the muzzle. "Sleep okay?"

The husky nodded. "Uh-huh."

DJ nodded. "Good." He knew Cody had been having nightmares lately; mostly involving their former room mate at college, and they had been getting worse and more frequent as school approached.

"I was hoping you would want to go to the cove one last time before we have to leave," suggested DJ, nuzzling Cody's neck. "Y'know...our favorite place?"

Cody murred and blushed. The cove was privately owned by DJ's parents, and was out of sight of the rest of the beach and the house. So it had fast become their favorite place to sneak off and be intimate. "I would love to go there; at sunset?"

The otter smiled again. "Whatever my husky wants." He gave Cody a little lick, and Cody blushed even more. DJ put his arms around Cody's waist, kissing him on the cheek. "Are you ready to go back to college?"

Cody sighed. "No. But what choice do we have?"

"You could stay here with my parents," teased DJ. Cody gave him a playful jab in the side for that one. DJ squealed, batting away the husky's paw. "Okay, okay! We won't do that!" He kissed Cody again. "Come on, mom's going to make your favorite breakafast for the last day here; I told her what you like."

Cody swished his tail. "Blueberry pancakes?"

"With maple syrup," added DJ.

The husky kissed the otter furiously. "I love you."

DJ laughed. "Boy, if I knew all it took was blueberry pancakes and maple syrup..." They both laughed.

They parted the curtains, stepping back into DJ's room. The two of them put on actual clothes and made their way downstairs, holding paws as they walked down the stairs.

***

Josh murmured in his sleep, tossing and turning. He was running down a long hall, chasing Ty. At the end of the hall was that otter he saw Ty with, holding his arms open for Ty. Josh couldn't see the leopard's face, but he knew he was happy as he ran to the otter. Josh was trying his best to catch Ty before he got there, but it seemed every step he took, Ty took three. He was just getting farther and farther away. And Josh wanted to just scream out that he loved Ty, that he should turn around and see him there and run to him, but couldn't; his mouth was moving but no sound was coming out. Inevitably, Ty reached the otter, falling into his arms. And everything went dark.

"NO!"

The kangaroo bolted upright in bed, putting a paw to his forehead. He was still in Lance's guest room. It was a grey morning outside, and rain was pattering against the windows gently. Josh closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. It had been so real; just like all the other nightmares. At least it wasn't as bad as the one where he had seen Ty having sex with the otter, whoever he was.

There was a soft knock on the door. "Josh? Everything okay?"

Lance. The fox must have heard him scream.

"Y-yeah, I'm okay," replied Josh.

"Can I come in?" asked Lance.

Josh sighed again. "Sure."

The knob turned and Lance stepped inside in a blue T-shirt and white boxers. Josh wiped his eyes, leaning back against the headboard.

"Is everything okay?" inquired Lance, sitting on the bed.

"Sure," answered Josh. "Just...bad dreams." He kicked his covers off, suddenly feeling hot, and Lance realized he was sleeping naked. He tried to keep his eyes from drifting to Josh's crotch, and not remind himself there was a time the two of them had shared a bed. "Sorry if I'm making you uncomfortable; I could put pants on."

"No, it's okay," said Lance, slowly. "Just--"

"Remembering high school?" finished Josh.

Lance smiled stupidly. "Yeah."

Josh put his paw over Lance's. "I'm still really sorry about that." He sighed once more. "I guess neither one of us are going to end up with him."

The fox didn't say anything, just staring at Josh's paw over his own, and enjoying the feeling of someone else's touch once again. He hadn't told Josh he'd been having nightmares of his own; of reliving that moment when Race left him over and over again.

"Did you remember to send in the dorm request; that we end up in the same one?" asked Lance, at length.

"Yeah," answered Josh. Josh was to be going to college with Lance, and wanted to dorm in with the fox. He was the only one he knew at college, and he didn't have anything else to do with his life. He couldn't go home, and couldn't stay here; so he decided to go with Lance to college, and try to do something with his life. It wasn't going to be that easy, though; for now he was registered as liberal arts. He had no idea what to do for a career, and was still at the point where he didn't really care; he still missed Ty. He couldn't imagine not missing his leopard...even if Ty wasn't his leopard anymore.

"We have to be out of here tomorrow morning, pretty early," said Lance. "Probably pack the car tonight."

Josh nodded slowly, not saying anything.

"You still miss him, huh?"

Josh didn't say anything for a moment. "You should know better than anyone what I'm feeling."

Lance took a deep breath. "Yeah...I do." He put his other paw over Josh's that was already on his. "It'll be okay...for both of us."

"I don't think I can ever love someone again," replied Josh, miserably. "Not the way I loved him."

"You'll find someone," Lance assured him.

The kangaroo sniffled. "Would you come lay here with me?"

Lance hesitated for a second; but he knew neither of them were thinking about sex. He crawled up with Josh, letting the kangaroo put his arms around Lance's waist. The fox stroked his headfur while Josh sniffled into his chest. They really were two broken hearts, and Lance didn't honestly know if either of them would heal. He entwined his paw with Josh's, and involuntarily flinched when his finger rested over where Josh was missing his. He mentally scolded himself; he had gotten used to it already, it was just unnerving to actually touch it.

"It's okay," sobbed Josh, miserably. "I know it's weird."

"No, I'm sorry," said Lance, quietly. "There's nothing wrong with it. Just forgot about it for a moment." He knew Josh's other paw had the scars on the back of his hand; he had never asked the kangaroo about where it came from, though. No more than he had asked Josh how he lost his finger.

"I'm still so sorry, Lance," whimpered Josh. "For back then. Maybe you'd still be with Ty, and no one would have left you, and I'd be alone like I'm meant to be!"

"Shhh," whispered Lance. "It's okay."

"No! It's not," heaved Josh. "I really loved him, and he's gone! I was even going to..."

"To what?"

"Nothing; it's not important," said Josh, quietly. "I'm just sorry."

Lance sighed. "I forgive you." He gave Josh's paw a quick squeeze. "I promise, I forgive you."

Josh sniffled again, not replying.

"It took me a long time, but I did forgive you," said Lance. "Even if Race left me, we had a few good years together. And he's doing what he thought was best for him. But maybe you should call Ty; you deserve closure."

Josh wiped his eyes. "I can't ever talk to him again. I...I don't even know what I would say. He's with someone he obviously loves. I won't try and tear someone apart from their love ever again."

The fox didn't say anything. "Well, I don't know what to tell you."

"I don't, either," murmured Josh.

***

It was just a little after seven, and the sun was just starting to set. DJ gingerly stepped down over the rocks, turning to help his husky down. The canine hopped down next to his love, smiling. DJ kissed him on the cheek. "We're here."

Cody grinned, looking out over the water. The tide was just coming in, crashing against the rocks to their right, where the small cave was. The two of them had gone in there at low tide, looking in all the rock pools left behind when the water was out, The ocean was catching all the hues of the sunset, casting it a golden red. Stars were just starting to be visible over the horizon, and the temperature was just perfect, a breeze stirring over the coast. The two of them sat in the sand, DJ shrugging off the backpack he wore down with them, unpacking their dinner out of it. A couple sandwiches, macaroni salad, and a bottle of red wine.

"Where'd you get that from?" asked Cody, pointing to the wine.

DJ smiled and uncorked the wine. "May have liberated it from the wine shelves in the basement. Just maybe." He poured two glasses, handing one to Cody, then spread out a blanket in the sand for the two of them. He put the sandwiches and other things on it, sitting across from Cody. The husky just couldn't stop smiling; it was the perfect end to their summer. He couldn't imagine anywhere else he wanted to be.

"So whatcha think?" asked DJ. "Put everything together myself."

Cody giggled. "You can't fool me; I saw your mom in the kitchen."

DJ laughed. "I can't put anything past you, can I?"

"Well, I also don't think you're quite capable of putting together something as simple as macaroni salad," jeered Cody.

"Oh, yeah? I'm capable of other things, husky-boy," replied DJ, getting on his hands and knees and crawling over to Cody.

"Like what?" asked Cody, with a giggle.

"Lots of stuff," answered DJ. "But maybe you should find out for yourself."

Cody murred. "Maybe I should." He leaned over and kissed DJ. "Guess I should've known we wouldn't even get through dinner."

DJ laughed. "Nope; it's HAS been a couple days."

"I should know better than to keep you pent up."

"It's true." He lifted Cody's shirt off, tossing it on the blanket next to them, then nuzzled into the husky's bare chest. He licked his mate's nipples under the husky's white fur, Cody closing his eyes and gasping. DJ had discovered that little spot by accident one night when he bit Cody on the nipples while he was mounting him. Cody murred, running his paw down DJ's arm, gripping his wrist tightly. And Cody knew damn well this was just the beginning. DJ had spent all summer finding places on his body that made his head spin. The otter reached down, pushing Cody's shorts' leg up, rubbing the inside of his thigh while biting down on his nipple. Cody gasped out loud, knowing he could make all the noise he wanted here, and no one could hear; he knew this mostly because he had howled everytime DJ had taken him here, and no one had ever come looking.

DJ put his paw through the opening in leg, rubbing Cody's balls around. The husky let a deep breath out. "Murrrn, just like that, sweetness."

"I know how my husky likes it," whispered DJ, nosing his love. He leaned down, biting the inside of Cody's leg up and down. The husky loved this part; DJ had started doing it everytime as foreplay, and it was incredible. His sheath was already bulging, his cock already stiffening, and DJ didn't even have to touch it. The otter bit his was back up Cody's leg to his crotch, shoving his muzzle against Cody's sheath through his shorts. "I think we need to get these off."

Cody laughed, taking a deep breath again. "I think I would agree," he breathed.

DJ reached up to Cody's waistband, slowly working it down his hips. Cody lifted his butt, letting DJ get it over his tail and down his thighs, pulling off his pants. The otter tossed them next to Cody's shirt, grinning at the naked husky in front of him.

"Am I going to be the only naked one here?" asked Cody, smiling back at his mate.

"For now," replied DJ, rubbing his mate's belly. "We'll see about me later, okay?" He got up on his knees, setting his paws on Cody's shoulders and putting his muzzle right near Cody's neck. Cody knew what was coming, and knew after this he'd be putty in DJ's paws. The otter leaned in and put his muzzle on Cody's neck, taking a firm bite down. Cody growled with rapture, putting his paws around DJ in pure pleasure. It was like electricity was in every part of his body, and completely paralyzed him. All he could do with his arms was tighten them around his lover. His muzzle was slack in a silent moan, and his tail was straight out behind his butt. This was almost as good as his orgasm. Cody felt himself going weak, and he fell backward into the sand, DJ still on top of his, biting down into his neck. The otter reached his left paw down and rubbed Cody's erect cock, which was now clear of his sheath. It glistened in the gentle light that remained as the moon began to rise high in the sky. All the sounds around him seemed amplified, especially the waves that were rolling against the surf next to them. Everything now was perfect.

DJ released his grip on Cody, but not on his cock, stroking him slowly as the otter put his nose to the husky's. "How do you feel, love?"

"Fantastic," murred Cody. "You know everything you do is perfect to me, sweetheart."

Smiling, DJ kissed him on the muzzle. "Good." He slinked away from Cody's muzzle, taking his own muzzle across Cody's taught stomach and down to his cock. He licked it from base to tip, taking the couple drops of precum off Cody's slit that had collected there, savoring the flavor; the salty-sweet taste that always came with those fluids. Cody curled and flexed his footpaws, closing his eyes and just giving into the ecstasy that invaded his groin. DJ wrapped one of his paws around the base of Cody's cock, putting firm yet gentle pressure there, and his free paw he set under Cody's ball, clemently stroking the sensitive spots there. He smiled when he saw the canine's jaw went slack and he let a slight susurration from his muzzle. Involuntarily shifting a bit, Cody panted and moaned as his cock and other spots were played with, his orbs inside his furry sac tingling with wanton release.

"Mmmmf....aren't you going to...," started Cody, stopping mid-sentence to take a breath, "put it in your muzzle?"

Smiling, the otter took the husky's cock in his paw and teasingly pumped it, just enough to let him feel it but nowhere near enough to make him cum. "You want your husky cock in my muzzle, huh?"

Cody whimpered, nodding. "Please?"

The otter let his tongue slide down the underside of Cody's shaft, then back to the tip, pushing the end of his tongue against Cody's slit. Cody murred and arched his back at the feeling, gasping. "Mrrrrn...," was about all the canine could get out; everything else was just gone. And when he thought he just couldn't take it anymore, DJ engulfed the husky's cock into his muzzle, his nose touching the base of Cody's cock, throating it all at once. Cody could feel his cocktip just barely brushing the back of DJ's mouth, but knew from previous experience that this wasn't causing the otter any discomfort. His swollen maleness flexed inside the nice warmth it was encased it, DJ's one paw still managing to stimulate Cody's balls, which the otter knew drove his mate wild. There was so much precum coming out of Cody's penis, that DJ could discern that extra warmness from the rest of the heat from his mouth. The musk that came with it made DJ's own cock swell and press against the inside of his pants; so much so, that at length, he reached down and undid his pants' zipper with his husky's cock still in his muzzle and let his own throbbing dick free. He wrapped one paw around himself, stroking himself in time with the blowjob.

"Errrf....just like that, hun," whispered Cody, digging his paws into the blanket around them, wrapping it up in his paw. He felt like when he was ready to cum, he would orgasm buckets out of himself. He could hear DJ breathing deeply, and was aware the otter was pawing himself off. The tongue swirling over his shaft and head, the paw wrapped around the base of his cock, the breathing, the panting, murring, and growling; everything about the sex was just perfect to Cody. He grunted when his knot came free of his sheath, the bulbous extension of his cock liberated to be played with now. DJ didn't miss his chance, putting his paw under the base of the knot and squeezing gently, which brought on whole new waves of please for Cody. This was always the best part for him; the crackling of bliss that reached into every part of his body like a bolt following a stream. His legs, his arms, his stomach, and his head, everything tensed and contracted.

Moving his paw over his cock over and over, DJ grunted as best he could with Cody's maless filling his muzzle. Taking deep breaths through his nostrils, he could feel a slow, but steady, stream of precum slipping down the underside of his shaft and down to his paw, slicking it up a bit for him. Going from his base to his head, he touched every inch of himself, just as he did with his lover inside his muzzle. Having Cody's cock in his muzzle was making him even more horny, his raging erection in his paw spasming a bit. He wanted to taste his mate's seed in his muzzle once more, to let all that warmth spill into him and suck down every last bit. He licked at the little spot just under Cody's head, the spot he knew was more sensitive that the rest. He was rewarded with a loud gasp and moan from his husky, and knew that he had found. Licking at it with zeal, he ran his tongue back and forth in rapid motion, not letting up. Cody pushed his legs all the way out, his entire body tensing. DJ knew what was coming, and kept licking and sucking. Cody let a long, loud howl at as his testicles tightened to his body, and his semen rushed through his cock, pushed out into DJ's muzzle in rapid contractions. Tightening his muzzle so nothing got out, DJ drank down every drop, the warm, salty fluids coasting over his tongue and down his throat. He waited until Cody's entire orgasm had finished before taking his muzzle away, giving the husky's penis a kiss before he got up and straddled Cody's chest, his cock still sticking out of his shorts.

"Mrrrrn...that was incredible," murmured Cody.

"Glad you liked it," replied DJ. "But we're not done yet." He wrapped his paw around his cock, pawing himself again. His cock was bright red, even in the twilight around them, glinting with light from the moon. Cody watched in silent fascination as his mate stroked his own cock just inches from the canine's nose. Cody could clearly smell the musk from his boyfriend's cock, and it was making him horny all over again. He couldn't help but reach up and take his mate's paw away, replacing it with his own. The otter smiled down at him, and Cody smiled back, pumping his paw up and down his lover's cock. DJ let out a long, deep breath, moaning at the end of it, throwing his head back and closing his eyes. He was so worked up, and it felt so good to have the husky's paw on his malehood. The canine's fur had a slightly different feel than his own, and it always felt better; so soft and fluffy on his cock, rubbing and stroking, bringing him ever closer to climax. His tail gently wagged behind himself as he was stimulated, his testes going numb as his fluids were slowly starting to be pushed into his shaft. That tingling numbess moved into his base, and slowly climbed his shaft, stopping at his head. He was almost willing it to stop, but couldn't. He had already brought himself near the edge while he had been blowing Cody. He wanted to release so badly at the same time he wanted to keep it going and never let this moment end; the cool ocean breeze, the sound of late-evening birds chirping still, the stars overhead and the sand beneath them. It was all so perfect, and his mate here to share everything with him only made it better.

But he couldn't hold himself in any longer. Just like his mate, his sac drew closer to his body, and everything was let go in a glorious rush. He moaned and came all over his mate, his first few spurts landing on the husky's face, the rest all over his chest. DJ was just lost in the euphoria that came with his climax. He looked down and saw the last bit of his seed coming from his cock, reveling in the sight of marking his mate. Cody was also pleased to have his mate's cum on him; he liked it in him better, though. Cody gave DJ's slit one final rub, and let go of the otter's cock.

"Did you like that?" asked Cody, licking off the semen that was on him that he could reach with his tongue, liking the flavor.

The otter leaned down, bracing his paws on either side of Cody's head. "Very much so." He kissed Cody, tasting some of himself still on the husky's muzzle. "Looks like I got you a little dirty."

"That's okay," replied Cody, grinning. "Got a big ocean right there to clean up in."

"Very true," agreed the otter with a smile of his own.

The two of them got to their feet, DJ stripping off his clothing as they ran to the surf that was crashing gently into the shore. They waded in to waist height, holding paws under the stars and moonlight, embracing each other in the water. Cody nuzzled into DJ's neck, smelling him and feeling his warmth, and enjoying his mate's arms around him. He felt they could go on forever here if they had the chance.

"Cody?" started DJ.

"Yeah?" responded Cody, resting his head on DJ's shoulder.

"I love you."

The husky smiled, hugging his mate tightly. "I love you, too."

***

It was just the way he remembered it; just smaller, for some reason.

Vincent dropped his bags on the floor, looking around his room. It was the same room he'd had last year, so he was rooming alone again. He sort of preferred it that way. Especially if he'd be bringing a certain lynx around sometime; he hoped.

Kale and himself had been talking all summer, at least four times a week. And they were on the computer pretty much every night over instant messenger. The lynx had still been somewhat apprehensive at first, but Vincent had slowly gotten to know him. Towards the end of the summer, they'd been having cyber and phone sex. And if Kale was as good in bed as he was on the phone, Vincent couldn't wait for their first night together.

He sighed, thinking. He had two choices; he could either unpack now or later. And since the campus was deserted before the classes actually began, he felt the urge to head down to the quad. He opened the door and stepped into the hallway, side-stepping around a couple of furs carrying bags off to a room down the hall. All the dorm students were showing up today; the college was letting them come in a day early to unpack their things. He was hoping DJ and Cody were going to show up today. He hadn't known them for long, but he had missed seeing the two of them over the summer.

Hopping down the down the stairs, he opened the front doors onto the quad. It was a nice day, one of the last warmer days that were predicted. The Autumn season was supposed to be setting in early this year; some of the leaves had already begun to turn to yellows and reds. But warm breezes still stirred the grass on the ground and slipped over his face. It felt good to be back on his own again; he loved his folks to death, and they knew he was 'bisexual,' which for him basically meant he could appreciate looking at breasts, but could never thing of having sex with a female. It mostly just put his folks' minds at ease. And Kale was the kind of male he would love to get to know better.

A sharp ringing distracted from his day-dreaming. Reaching into his pocket, he fished out his cellphone, happy when he saw the number. "Hi there," he said, flipping it open.

"Hi," came the shy voice on the other end; Kale.

Vincent smiled at the meek tone he had. For someone who had been so adamant he had been sleeping around with several guys for the last few months of the previous semester, he was awfully bashful when it came to someone who wanted to date him. "What's up?"

"Not much," replied Kale. "I just got onto campus. I was sort of wondering if maybe you weren't busy you'd want to meet up."

"Absolutely!" exclaimed Vincent. "Where?"

"Well, how about where you're standing?" suggested Kale, deviously.

Vincent looked up and across the quad, and there was the lynx, waving to him. Vincent smiled and shut his phone, jogging across the quad towards Kale. He met Kale halfway over, hugging the cat tightly and lifting him up. "It's good to see you again."

Kale blushed. "You, too. I...I missed you."

The jackal perked his ears. "You did?"

Kale nodded. "Uh-huh, of course I did. You were the first guy that didn't just want sex from me."

Vincent smiled. "Well, how about that date we were talking about?"

"I think we could see about that," replied Kale, grinning. "Might be a couple days, what with the whole classes thing. But I really would like to go out with you."

Vincent held his paw. "Need help getting things into your room?"

Kale nodded. "Yeah, I have a lot of stuff."

"Then I'll give you a hand; then lunch is on me."

The lynx smiled. "I'd like that."

***

It was a perfect place. The hill they stood on gently rolled up, so it was just above the rest of the landscape. An old oak tree bent its branches down over the plot, shading it in the afternoon. Bright sunlight shone through and dappled the grass around their feet, the greenery rippled occasionally by a lazy breeze.

"They chose a nice spot," remarked DJ, from behind a pair of Ray-Bans.

"Yeah," agreed Cody, knelt down and not looking up. He laid the flowers they had brought with them on the flat marker, which was written merely with "Jaime Collins 1988-2007." His own parents had not bothered to buy a proper headstone; Cody remembered they didn't even come in for the funeral. It had been a rainy day, like some cosmic cliché. It felt like years ago, when it had only been a few months. Cody almost hadn't wanted to come here, but felt he was obligated to. It was hard to see the gravemarker of someone that had been in bed with him. "I never should have let him go."

"It was his choice," said DJ. "You couldn't have stopped him if you wanted to."

"I still feel like...like...I should have done something," murmured Cody. "There had to be some way to stop him."

The otter looked out over the cemetery, at all the grave stones and markers; it was sometimes sobering to realize each and every one had been a living, breathing fur at one point. "Everyone makes their own choices, and has to face the consequences."

"I just wanted something good for him," mumbled Cody, miserably.

DJ lay a paw on Cody's shoulder. "This is a good place for him."

"I know," responded Cody, trying to make himself not cry. He stood up, wiping his eyes quickly. "We should get back and get unpacked. Maybe see if the bookstore is open; would be better than going tomorrow."

DJ didn't say anything, merely following Cody back to the car. They got in, driving away from Whispering Hills Cemetary. Cody watched the place getting smaller and smaller in the rearview mirror, and even though he never wanted to come back, he knew he would; someone had to mourn the sweet raccoon they once knew.

"I don't know when the first swimming meet is," said DJ, suddenly, trying to break the silence that had settled in. "Guess I should find that out, too, huh?"

Cody nodded, still not saying anything, just staring straight out through the front window. DJ knew the husky was playing that night they let Jaime go to the party over and over in his head. He had been insistent that this was their first stop after getting into town and dropping all their things in the room, which had turned out to be a double. And if he was playing it all over in his head again, it meant he was blaming himself for it all over again. DJ sighed, driving through the main street of town back towards the college. If Cody was going through all this again, there was nothing DJ felt he could do for him; just be supportive, and let him work it all out himself.

The car pulled into the college driveway, DJ turning into the student lot, making sure his parking tag was clearly visible. Getting out of the car, DJ noticed how down his mate still was. He took the husky's paw as they walked towards the quad, giving it a gently squeeze. Cody looked over and smiled weakly.

"It's okay," assured DJ. "Y'know, I think college activities sign-ups start tomorrow; why don't we get you into something, since I'll be off at swimming practice and meets again this semester?"

"Like what?" queried Cody,

DJ shrugged. "Whatever you want. We can at least go look."

"I guess," agreed Cody. He couldn't really think of anything he wanted to do; he wasn't much for sports, and all the other clubs when he was in high school had been boring. But DJ was right, it would be nice to have something to occupy himself with while his otter was out at swim meets.

The quad was starting to liven up already. Frisbee and a few other small sports were being organized, and some groups of furs were getting basketball and soccer games together to play on the courts and fields. The smell of hotdogs and hamburgers drifted under Cody's nose; he was starving, and it was lunch time after all.

"I think the puppy is hungry," teased DJ, looking at his mate transfixed on the tent where the grill was. Cody nodded, trotting towards the food. DJ was right behind him, barely able to keep up while their hands were clasped together. Cody ordered two hotdogs, and DJ got a hamburger. They took their food and wandered to the far end of the quad, back near the dorms, and sat on a bench there, eating their impromptu lunch. Cody shot down both hotdogs before DJ had a chance to even get half his burger eaten.

"Jeez, guess you WERE hungry!" exclaimed DJ.

Cody laughed and smiled. "Guess so. I'm assuming we're onto cafeteria food for dinner."

"We're spared for one night," said DJ. "Mom sent some of her homemade ravioli along to save us from college food for one more night."

"That was nice of her," affirmed Cody. "Your parents in general were really cool."

"I'm glad you thought so," remarked DJ. "They loved having you there; they hope you'll come back for Christmas."

Cody smiled. It was fantastic to have such supporting parents, even if they weren't his own; but they had made him feel as though they were for three months. "You think Lance is back yet?"

"I dunno; we can go check, though," replied DJ.

"Okay," agreed Cody. He wanted to check in on the fox; he had been wondering how Lance had been over the summer with Race just suddenly up and leaving that night.

***

Lance bent over the dresser, putting his boxers and other underwear away. The two of them had gotten a new room, which Lance had been thankful for; he didn't want to be reminded of last semester. Too many painful memories.

"You want the bed near the window?" asked Josh, setting his last suitcase down.

Lance shook his head. "It doesn't matter much to me."

Josh sat on the bed next to the window, opening the pane, fresh air sweeping in over the room. He breathed deeply, taking in the scent of the outdoors. "There's some sort of quad party going on; we could go down."

"I don't really want to," remarked Lance, off-handedly. He lay down on the bed, staring at the ceiling. "Being back here is just...hard." He looked over at the kangaroo. "Aren't you still upset?"

Josh sighed. "I'm trying not to think about it," he simply said. "If I think about it too much, then yes, I'd probably crawl back into bed and never get out." He reached into his pocket, taking out two small, silver objects. Lance recognized them as dog tags. He knew Josh had been in the military, and suspected that was where he lost his finger, and got the moon-shaped scar under his right eye. Josh set the dogtags on his nightstand, sighing again. "Well, I don't want to be cooped up in here for our last day of freedom. I'll be back in a little while."

"Okay," murmured Lance.

Josh opened the door, taking one last look over his shoulder at the fox. Lance just kept looking at the ceiling. The roo turned and left, closing the door gently behind him.

Lance rolled over onto his right side; the side where, last semester, Race had lay. He still almost expected that if he turned to his left, and then back to his right, that Race would be there, smiling and waiting to cuddle. But he knew it would never happen. Race was out there somewhere, doing what he felt was best, and there was nothing Lance could do about it.

There was a soft knock at the door. Lance perked his ears, wondering who it was. He figured Josh must have forgotten his key when he left. Getting grudgingly to his feet, he walked to the door, opening it, and was surprised to find Cody and DJ there.

"Hiya," greeted Cody.

"Hi," responded Lance, glumly.

"We were just coming by to check on you, see how you were doing," explained DJ. "You here by yourself?"

"Yes and no; roomie's out, you just missed him," said Lance, stepping aside so they could come in.

"Was it that kangaroo we passed in the hall?" asked DJ, coming into the room, Cody right behind him. Lance closed the door, going and sitting on the bed.

"Yeah, that was probably him; he wanted to go out and find something to do," replied Lance.

"You didn't want to?" inquired Cody.

"Not really," answered Lance. "Just sort of feel like staying here."

Cody looked at DJ, feeling awkward. "Did we interrupt something?"

"No, not really," mumbled Lance. "Still just...missing Race, I guess."

DJ sat next to him, putting an arm around the fox's shoulders. "It's okay to feel that way, you know."

Lance nodded. "I know. Just wish it still didn't hurt."

"It's always going to hurt," said DJ, delicately. "He was your first love; it's never the same after that. But you'll find someone else; there's got to be someone who's perfect for you out there."

Lance sighed. "Yeah; Race." He looked down at the ground. "Look, I'm sorry, I just need a little...alone time, okay?"

DJ nodded. "Okay. We'll do something in a couple days once things settle down. Okay?"

Lance nodded now, not saying anything. The other two just let themselves out, slipping quietly into the hall. Lance didn't move, just sitting on the edge of the bed by himself. He didn't know how he was going to make himself go to classes in the morning, He just wanted to crawl into bed and never get out ever again. Everything now just hurt. More than ever, it just hurt. And he was tired of it all hurting.

Laying back down on the bed, he closed his eyes and just slept again.

***

It was after dark, the sun setting earlier and earlier every day now. Cody sat on the floor, playing Ghost Recon on his new XBox360; he had traded in his XBox over the summer and bought one with what little money he had left over from holding down the two jobs the previous semester. His mom had sent this semester's check to him, with a letter that just said, "Love you lots, call home. Mom." He had thrown the letter in the garbage; he wasn't in the mood for that.

The door opened and DJ stepped into the room, carrying a small pan with the ravioli his mother had sent with them. He set it on the desk, careful not to put it on top of the books and other supplies they had bought during the day; his parents had also sent a bit of money with them for food and starting supplies, along with some spending cash. Cody had at first felt like leech for using DJ's parents' money, but DJ had assured him they had said it was as much for Cody as it was for DJ.

"Dinner's ready," announced DJ, getting a couple of plastic bowls and forks out. College eating at it's best, he thought, dryly. "Come on there, you."

Cody turned off the XBox, sitting on the bed and taking a bowl from DJ. The two of them munched contentedly on their dinner, sitting next to each other and enjoying their last night of a school-free day.

"Think Lance is doing okay?" asked Cody, at length.

DJ swallowed down a bite of ravioli. "I don't know; I know I wouldn't want to go through what he is."

The husky cuddled in close to him. "You'll never have to worry about that.'

DJ smiled, kissing his mate. "Good. You're everything to me; I don't ever want us to split up."

"We won't; I promise."

They cuddled up against one another, their dinner momentarily forgotten. Cody put his arms around DJ's waist, feeling the otter's warmth against himself, loving the sensation of his mate's fur against his own. It was all just nice.

DJ ruffled Cody's headfur, grinning. "You're something else, you know that?"

"Yeah, but what?"

DJ laughed. "I have no idea." He came nose to nose with Cody, licking the husky's muzzle. "But we can find out."

Cody giggled and blushed. "Guess it is our last night." He started to undo DJ's belt and zipper. "I would sort of like you inside me."

DJ murred and kissed Cody, pinning the husky down on the bed and starting to undo the canine's pants now that were already tented. "I thought you'd never ask."

***

The quad was packed again, now with students arriving, getting to class, and the extracurricular activities sign-up booths. Furs hustled back and forth, trying to get to all the lines they wanted before the slots on the sign-up sheets were taken.

Cody muscled his way through the crowd, holding tightly onto his books. He had come straight down from class, not wanting to be stuck with choosing from things like Math-letes and Grammar Crusaders. Sports weren't his thing, either, though, so he didn't know where he was going to end up.

Not watching where he was going, he bumped into another fur, the two of them grunting and reeling away from each other.

"I'm sorry," said Cody, immediately.

"Not at all," replied the fur, another husky. He was about Cody's height, with silver-grey fur and matching eyes. He was dressed casually, with a collection of Greek-alphabet letters over his breast pocket on his polo shirt. "I didn't even see you there."

Cody smiled. "I was just trying to find an activity that isn't filled."

"It is a challenge," agreed the husky, looking at everyone around them. "Could always do a frat."

"A fraternity? No thanks," answered Cody.

"Aww, what not?" asked the husky, feigning disappointment. "I happen to know one that doesn't even require initiation; the only requirement to get in is that you're a husky."

"Really?"

The silver husky nodded. "I happen to be in charge of it. Name's Gregory, but everyone calls me Greg," he said, offering his paw.

Cody took the his paw, not being able to keep his tail from wagging. This was like a dream come true; a bunch of huskies, just like him, letting him join their club. But in the back of his mind, he couldn't help but remember it was a frat party Jaime had died at. In spite of that, he wanted nothing more than to follow Greg and sign right up.

"My name's Cody, and show me where to sign up," said Cody.

Greg smiled wide. "Terriffic. Come on with me."

The two of them made their way over to the other side of the campus, walking off the quad and over to one of the back roads near the college. Up and down were houses that all looked vaguely the same, and each had three letters over the door frame. They walked down the sidewalk, Cody seeing furs in sweaters with matching letters to their house on them, lots of friends meeting up with one another from the last year.

"Looks like a lot of fun over here," remarked Cody.

"Oh, it is," agreed Greg. "You'll fit right in."

Cody wagged his tail more, barely able to contain himself. He kept following right behind Greg as they made their way up a stone walkway to Greg's frat. The husky unlocked the door, stepping inside with Cody. Cody felt slightly self-conscious; partly due to meeting new people and being in a new place, but more because of his blue fur. He still felt insecure about it, especially when he assumed all these huskies would be normal.

"Hey, guys!" yelled Greg through the house, "got a newbie!"

Leading husky into the sitting room just off the main hall, Cody saw four more huskies sitting at a table playing cards, dressed in casual attire and frat shirts. They all looked up when the new guy walked in. Cody hung back behind Greg when he saw they were all grey, brown, or black colored; he stuck out like a sore thumb.

"Well, don't be shy, come on over," encouraged Greg. Cody shuffled forward, standing next to Greg. "This is Eric, Kyle, Morrigan, and Brent, the rest of the frat. Guys, this is Cody."

A round of 'hello' and waves greeted him, Cody waving back self-consciously.

"Cody's gonna be joining," continued Greg. "Since he's a husky and all."

"With blue fur," remarked one of them, Morrigan. Cody felt his stomach turn into three knots. "It looks cool."

"Yeah, it's different," agreed Eric, taking another card for whatever game they were playing.

Cody relaxed, smiling now and not forcing it. "What do you guys do for fun?" asked Cody finally.

"It speaks!" exclaimed Kyle, raucously. The other laughed, and Cody blushed, scuffing his paws.

"You're pretty much looking at it," answered Eric. "Pull up a chair and grab a drink; soda's in the 'frige."

Cody nodded, going through the archway on the opposite side of the room into the kitchen, which was fully furnished and completely clean. He opened the refrigerator, getting himself a Pepsi, popping the top. It was certainly not what he had in mind when he came down to sign up for something, but it was an easy way to make friends, and they were fairly accepting of him. Of course, they didn't know he was gay, yet.

Wandering back into the sitting room, Greg had joined the card game. "Come over," he sad to Cody, pointing to a free chair. Sitting down, Cody still wasn't too sure what to say or do. The other guys made the decision for him, throwing him a few cards.

"Poker," stated Eric. "No money, just for fun."

Cody nodded; it had been some time since he played, but he remembered the basics.

"We've just a couple rules here," started Greg, looking at Cody. "Even though we're not officially on school property, we are bonded to the school, so we have to follow the same rules as the school grounds; no drugs, no alcohol, no loud music after midnight."

Cody nodded. "You really never have alcohol here?"

Greg looked sideway at his fellow frat members. "Well, not NEVER, but it's usually just for us; we seldom have parties, given that no one but frat members are allowed in here. And that's rule numero uno. No friends, family, girlfriends, whatever in here. Just us."

Cody looked down at the table, nodding; he felt bad he wasn't going to be able to bring DJ in here, he would probably have fun.

"And every third Wednesday of the month is a frat house meeting, and they're mandatory; you can miss one a year, or you're out. Other than that, everything is cool."

Cody grinned. "It all sounds good to me."

Greg smiled back. "Then we're gonna get along great." He raised his Papsi can. "To our newest member, Cody."

The rest of them all clinked cans together. Cody knew this was going to be a great year.

***

The door opened and DJ looked up from his History book, seeing Cody slip in.

"Where were you, it's almost nine, I thought we were going to get dinner together," said DJ as the husky sat down on the bed.

"I'm sorry, hun, the guys and I did dinner already; they bought a pizza for me," answered Cody, laying down and sighing contentedly.

DJ raised an eyebrow. " 'The guys'?"

"Oh, yeah," started Cody, sitting up. "I joined a frat today."

The otter frowned. "You did what?"

"I joined a frat," repeated Cody.

DJ swung himself around on the bed, looking at Cody. "Why did you do that?"

Cody shrugged. "I ran into the head of the frat down at the sign ups for clubs and stuff, and he asked me to, and I said yes."

"Did you forget Jaime died at a frat party?" asked DJ, critically.

Cody sighed. "No, I didn't forget. But, it's a way for me to make friends and get to be a part of something. You're the one that wanted me to get out and do stuff."

"This isn't what I meant," muttered DJ. "What do you have to do to get in?"

Cody shook his head. "Nothing. It's just for huskies." He looked away. "Which means you can't go there with me."

"I wouldn't want to go there anyway," replied DJ, standing up and grabbing his keys. "I have swim practice tomorrow, and my first meet is next Thursday; you going to be there?"

Cody sighed again. "We're having a party at the frat house that day, and they want me to--"

"You know, never mind," said DJ, in a severe tone of voice. "I never expected this out of you."

"But, sweetie--"

DJ cut him off. "I'm hungry. I"ll see you in a little while." With that, he left, slamming the door. Cody was left by himself, just looking down at the floor.

***

Cody lay on the couch, staring at the ceiling. He had come to the frat house after classes again, knowing that DJ was going to be at practice, and was still mad at him.

"How ya like being back in class?" asked Kyle, the only other one in the house, from the chair next to Cody.

"Not very much," replied Cody.

Kyle laughed. "Well, who does?" He sipped on his Pepsi. "Gonna be coming to the beach party next week, right?"

"Right," confirmed Cody, without enthusiasm.

"Seem a little distracted," observed Kyle. "Something on your mind?"

"Well, I had a fight with my boyf--room mate last night over joining the frat," said Cody, mentally kicking himself for the slip.

Kyle chuckled. "And your 'room' mate, he wasn't thrilled with it?"

"You could say that," Cody muttered. "He's all mad our party is the same day as his first swim meet, and I want to go to both, but can't."

"So come with us," suggested Kyle. "Guarantee you'll have more fun; just won't get any when you get home."

Cody tilted his head up, Kyle grinning ear to ear. "Guess not," agreed Cody, putting his head back down.

"It's cool, man," assured Kyle. "Greg is gay, too. We're a little different than most frats."

"Good to know," said Cody. "Between being gay and the blue fur, I thought I'd be back out in an instant."

"Nah, the blue looks good on ya," remarked Kyle. "Unique."

"That's one word for it," replied Cody, snorting. "Caught hell for it most of my life."

"Well, anyone does that to you now, you just tell us, and we'll kick their ass," said Kyle, laughing.

Cody laughed, too. "I'll do that."

***

The poolhouse smelled of chlorine, just like always. DJ dropped his back next to his usual locker, sighing. He didn't like fighting with Cody; they'd never had a major fight, really. But he did not like the idea of his bumming around with a frat. He knew how much trouble the impressionable husky could get into with them, and how desperate he was to make friends. He sometimes wondered if the reason he had been so upset over Jaime's death was that Cody saw some of himself in the raccoon.

He opened his locker and was putting his things away when more furs came in. There was to be a meeting to discuss things for the coming year, then the actual practice. DJ caught the sight of the wolf captain, Lucas, coming into the locker room. He held himself with the usual snobby aura he projected whenever he was in the locker room. He loved to be in charge, and everyone knew it. DJ also knew he was sleeping around with half the team. DJ dressed into his speedo as fast as he could just to get out of the same room with the self-righteous ass.

Back out near the pool, they all gathered around the shallow end of the pool, Lucas in front of them as they stood around him in a semi-circle.

"Okay, everyone, I don't think we have any newbies for this year yet, so this should be easy," started Lucas. "Let's have a year of winning. No showboating." He stared at DJ as he emphatically said the last part DJ hated him.

"As first order of business, we have to choose team captain," said Lucas, exasperatedly. "It's just a formality, since I don't think anyone wants the job."

DJ squeezed his paws. Aw, fuck it, he thought. "I'll take it."

Lucas turned to him raising an eyebrow. "You? I don't think so."

DJ stepped forward, the rest of the team actually taking a step backward. "I've almost got your records beat, and this year I aim to do it. What's the matter, afraid I'll show you up?"

Lucas turned a shade of red that obvious even through his fur. "Well, it has to go to a vote." He turned to everyone else. "So who wants to change the captain to DJ?"

Slowly, the entire team had their paws in the air, all looking away from Lucas as they did it. Lucas almost visibly shook with rage.

"Looks like I'm the crowd favorite," taunted DJ.

"Shut up!" yelled Lucas, turning and throwing a punch to DJ. DJ flinched and threw up his arms to try and stop the inevitable, but the wolf's paw was stopped mid-throw. A tan-colored paw was resting on his arm, holding it firmly in place. Lucas looked over his shoulder and came to see emerald eyes, and a crescent-shaped scar under of those eyes.

"Is there a problem here?" asked the kangaroo.

"Back off, pouch-boy," seethed Lucas, trying to shake himself free of the roo's grasp, but the muscular roo held tight. When Lucas tried to flail his other paw at the kangaroo, the roo deftly knocked the wolf's legs out from under him, the lupine hitting the deck with a dull thud.

The kangaroo turned to DJ, walking right past Lucas. "I was told to come see Lucas, the captain, about joining the team."

DJ nodded to the wolf behind the kangaroo, who was getting up and still looked fuming. "That would be him, but he's no longer the captain or on this team. I'm the new captain, and my name is DJ. What can I do for you?"

Lucas got back on his feet. "Fuck you, DJ."

"Get out of my pool house," demanded DJ, evenly. "You can leave your key with the school office. I want it there by five."

"Now just a damned minute--" started Lucas, stepping forward, but was cut short by the impressive wall of muscle that was the new roo in the room. Lucas looked at the kangaroo, then around him at DJ. "This isn't over."

DJ just looked back at him. "It is for now."

Lucas glared for another minute longer, then turned to get changed and retreat.

The kangaroo turned around to face the otter. "My name is Josh, by the way."

"Well, Josh, looks like I owe you one already," replied DJ, the two of them shaking hands. "If you're interested in joining, I have a scheduled practice to run here, now, I guess. But, I'll give you a try-out afterward if you want to stick around."

Josh nodded. "Sounds good to me. I'll sit up on the bleachers, tell me when you're ready."

DJ smiled and nodded. "Will do." He turned to the rest of the group. "Okay, everyone in the pool, ten laps to warm up."

As the rest of the furs got in the water, DJ got a quick look at Lucas skulking out of the pool house, still glaring at him. Whatever the wolf had in mind, DJ figured it could only be trouble.

***

Vincent stood on the front stairs of the male dorms. He looked at his watch over and over again, anxiously waiting for the minutes to tick away to five-thirty. The sun was already getting low, the Autumn days already starting to shorten. It had already been little over a week since last Tuesday when school had started, and tonight was finally the night he managed to talk Kale into a date. The lynx was still very hesitant and shy, but Vincent had caught him and coerced him into the evening. He was planning on taking the lynx over to a small restaurant near a park he had discovered, uncoincidentally named The Park View.

He tapped his foot, the bouquet of flowers, a half dozen roses, rustling gently as his body moved. Kale had told him to meet downstairs at five-thirty, and he was almost afraid he was being stood up, as the seconds moved on to five-twenty-nine; until the doors opened. He turned and gasped slightly.

The lynx was dressed in a blue-violet shirt with black slacks, pressed deftly into a fine crease on the front. He smelled divine, of sandlewood and vanilla. His brilliant sky-blue eyes glittered in the ember light of the beginning twilight on the September evening.

"Hello," he said, quietly.

Vincent smiled. "Hi. I was almost afraid you wouldn't come."

Kale walked over to the steps, taking them slowly, getting close to Vincent and putting his paw over the jackal's. "And why would you think that? Of course I'd be here on time for someone as sweet as you."

Vincent blushed slightly. "Here." He held up the roses to Kale. "I...I got these for you," he said, suddenly feeling silly for some reason.

Taking the flowers, Kale took a deep breath of them, getting the scent. "They're lovely. Thank you." The lynx held them delicately in his hand, as if the slightest pressure would make them shatter like fine porcelain. "Where did you want to go for dinner?"

"There's a restaurant I was going to take us to," answered Vincent. "Small, quiet place."

"Sounds wonderful," agreed Kale, smiling bashfully. Vincent loved that smile.

"We'll take my car," said Vincent. "It's over in the student lot." He turned, expecting Kale to follow him, but the lynx reached over and took the jackal's paw in his, holding it as they walked to the parking lot. Vincent looked down at their clasped paws, then back as Kale, who just smiled again.

They reached Vincent's car, releasing paws and getting in. Vincent started the car, pulling out of the lot and onto the street, heading for the restaurant.

"I was very happy you wanted to go out, still," stated Kale suddenly.

Vincent looked over at him, then back to the road. "What would make you think I wouldn't come back?"

Kale shrugged. "I dunno. There's nothing special about me...and all that sex I had with all those guys last year..."

'That doesn't matter to me," said Vincent, quietly. "All that matters is who you are now; that's the guy I like."

Kale looked away, looking out of the window as the sky turned to fire. Maybe it wasn't too late for him to find happiness.

Vincent turned the corner, driving to the south side of the park, where the restaurant. The park itself extended out past the restaurant, a few acres of tress that were now blossoming into the trademark colors of the season. In the blazing colors of the sunset over them, they all looked as if they were bursting into flame.

Getting out of the car, they walked over the restaurant, which was an old smaller-scale mansion, converted into the restaurant. Vincent opened the door for his date, Kale going inside. Vincent followed right behind him.

"Good evening, sirs," greeted the maitre'd, an older golden lab, dressed in a full tuxedo. "Do we have reservations tonight?"

"Yes," replied Vincent, "under Vincent."

The matre'd flipped open his book. "Ah, yes, here you are, right on time. And you requested a table on the patio?"

"If there is one available," confirmed Vincent.

The maitre'd smiled. "I think there is one. If you'd follow me."

They cut through the restaurant, going to a set of double doors in the back, the maitre'd opening them, and leading onto a wrought-iron fenced patio, completely candle-lit, with soft music playing over speakers disguised in a flower garden rimming the edges of the patio.

The maitre'd seated them at a table nearest the edge, so they could see into the park nearby. "Your waiter will be with you in a moment." And disappeared back into the restaurant.

"I feel almost under-dressed," whispered Kale, nervously.

Vincent smiled. "You look fantastic."

Kale blushed and looked away. "Nah."

"Very."

Kale smiled. "If you say so."

Their waiter, a wolf, approached the table, setting down silverware. "Welcome to Park View," he said, crisply. "Will we be seeing a wine list tonight?"

"Not tonight," replied Vincent. "I'd just like a gin and tonic." He held a twenty up for the waiter. "And you won't need to see my ID."

The waiter took the twenty quickly, looking over his shoulder. "Of course, sir. And for you?" he asked Kale.

"Just a glass of water with a twist of lime for now," replied Kale.

"Excellent. I'll let you look over the menu for a few minutes while I get your drinks." And with that he was off.

"You bribed him to get a drink?" asked Kale, quietly.

"Yes," said Vincent, simply. "Is that okay?"

Kale shrugged. "I guess."

Vincent smiled. "If it bothers you, I'll send it back when it gets here."

Kale shook his head. "No, no." He smiled. "It's okay."

The jackal smiled, too. "Okay, then." He looked at the menu, deciding he would be wanting the prime rib. "Anything look good to you?"

"All of it," replied Kale, laughing. "Just a lot of it is expensive, I can't really afford much except appetizers."

"Order whatever you want," said Vincent. "It's my treat."

"But, this is...it's all really expensive," whispered Kale.

Vincent laughed. "It's okay, really. Get whatever you want. I mean it."

Kale puzzled over the menu for a few more minutes. "It's been forever since I had lobster."

"Then lobster it is," declared Vincent.

The waiter came back with their drinks. "What can I get you tonight?"

"Prime rib for myself, medium-well done. And lobster for the feline," answered Vincent.

The waiter took the menus. "Excellent, sir. I'll have that right out."

Vincent nodded, and the waiter was off.

"So, what should we talk about while we wait for dinner?" asked Vincent.

Kale shrugged, feeling very self-conscious suddenly. "Um...I dunno."

Vincent smiled. "You're cute when you're all shy and embarrassed like that."

Kale looked away, sure Vincent could see him turning red under his fur. "No...I'm not. I'm not really cute or attractive to anyone."

"You are to me," assured Vincent, reaching his paw across the table and putting it over Kale's.

Kale smiled. "You're sweet."

"I mean it," said Kale. "You're smart and attractive. What's not to like?"

"I don't know; no one else wanted me," he muttered.

"Is that why you were sleeping around last year?" asked Vincent, gently.

Kale nodded silently. "Yeah, it was. Nobody wanted me, so I just...just opened myself up to whoever wanted to come along. I tried to reach out to someone. I guess he was a fuck-buddy, but I was hoping he'd end up being more...that he WANTED to be more. But, he didn't. He just wanted me for sex, and when I expressed the interest in wanting more, he just ran off."

Vincent didn't say anything.

"So, I made myself some money and got that feeling of being with someone, of having someone inside me, even if it was artificial and temporary," finished Kale.

"I'm sorry," said Vincent, quietly, squeezing Kale's paw.

"When you said you wanted to go out, I didn't even take you seriously at first," stated Kale. "I thought you were looking for free sex. But when the summer passed, and you could've gone to anyone for a one-night stand, and were still interested, I figured you must've been pretty damn persistent."

Vincent grinned. "You bet I was."

"And that made me feel special," simpered Kale.

"You are special," replied Vincent, leaning over the table and looking into Kale's eyes. "In so many ways."

Kale looked away again, self-conscious again. "I guess maybe I am if someone like you is interested in me."

Vincent smiled again. This lynx truly was special. He thought maybe this would be the one. The one male he could be with forever. At least, he hoped he would be.

***

They decided to go for a short walk through the park after dinner. It was night-time now, the moon starting to rise high in the sky, stars twinkling far away on the cosmic tapestry. Vincent walked paw-in-paw with his date, looking over at Kale and smiling. Kale smiled back, squeezing the jackal's paw a bit.

"Thank you for dinner," said Kale.

"Think nothing of it," replied Vincent, stopping and putting his arms around Kale, nosing him. "You're worth it."

Kale looked away, feeling the now-familiar warmth of a blush under his eyes.

"Too fast?" asked Vincent, starting to take his arms away.

"No, no," assured Kale, holding onto Vincent's arm and putting them back in place. "Not at all. Just used to, y'know...blowjob or getting mounted, money on the table and by myself. Not used to someone caring." He nuzzled into Vincent.

The jackal smiled. "I care about you; a lot. From the first time I saw you, I wanted to get to know you better. And maybe even be your's."

They stood there, embraced with one another, gentle wind blowing over their bodies and through the leaves of the trees, crickets chirping nearby, and birds that were still awake singing in the early-fallen evening, all of it making a natural orchestra.

Kale kissed Vincent on the cheek. "C'mere."

He took Vincent by the paw, leading off the main path and into a dense underbrush, away from the probing light of lights on the path and into the gentle embrace of the ebony shadows. He pressed his body to Vincent's, his paws drifting lower and over Vincent's ass. Kale let his paws go wherever they pleased, squeezing the jackal's rock-hard rear end. The lynx murred in pleasure as he explored his new partner's body, his paws coming around from the canid's butt to his thighs, rubbing between them as his paw drifted higher, towards his ultimate goal.

Vincent grunted lowly in pleasure. "W...ooooh...what're you doing?"

"Shh," susurrated Kale. "It's okay, just enjoy it; you're getting it for free, after all." Reaching up with his paw, he found Vincent's sheath, slightly stiff with the stimulation of the splendid stroking Kale was giving him. His bulge was getting more and more obvious when Kale pet him through the fabric of his pants. Kale dropped deftly to his knees, stroking with both paws now. The lynx stopped prodding long enough to nuzzle into Vincent's crotch, taking a deep whiff of that manly musk that always came with arousal, and it was better than ever with this male. He poked with the end of his muzzle, feeling the familiar twin orbs of the testicles on the end of his nose, and then a little higher the bulging cock. Vincent murred, liking the attention his cock was getting, putting his paws on top of Kale's head, scratching gently.

"You don't have to," whispered Vincent.

"I want to," replied Kale, just as quietly, his response punctuated only with the slight jingle of Vincent's belt as the cat nimbly undid the buckle. In the darkness, Vincent could hear the zipper of his pants being pulled down, and felt his button being released. The rustling of fabric was all the betrayed the fact that his pants were going down. The sudden coolness of the evening felt good on his exposed legs. Next his boxers went down, and he was left nude from the waist down. He looked down and could see himself and Kale in the darkness, his erect cock sticking out rigidly from his body. The lynx was eyeing it hungrily, his mouth almost watering. Vincent blushed, not used to being seen naked in this way.

"You're quite a big boy, you know," said Kale, in a breathy voice. Resting his head against Vincent's thigh, he wrap his left paw around the jackal's cock, stroking just the back of Vincent's head with just a thumb. Rubbing in small circles, he used his other paw to grab Vincent's balls, rolling the testes around his paws. Vincent took a deep breath, letting it out with a grunt. The jackal loved the feeling of someone else's paw on his cock; it was so much different from masturbation. It tingled and felt beyond anything he could do to himself, his cock pulsing and throbbing in his new lover's paw. Kale reveled at every spasm and twinge he could feel, knowing that the jackal was enjoying it. He smiled as he took a firm grip on Vincent's cock, encircling his paw around the shaft and pumping gently. His paw went all the way from the head down to the base and back again, lingering slightly on the head; he would rub and stroke it, particularly around the slit, and then let it amble back down the shaft.

"Mmmmf...you're very...good at that," murmured Vincent, closing his eyes at the ensuing pleasure that was emanating through every part of his body.

"Lots of practice," replied Kale, with a slight giggle.

It had been so long since someone else had wanted to share his body, and he was always so afraid to ask. But, with Kale, it had felt so natural, so easy. His cock was so hard, and everything just felt good. Kale was increasing his speed, not lingering so much on the head anymore and just pumping, still playing with the jackal's balls while he pawed off the canine. The feline could feel his own cock pressing stiffly against the inside of his pants, begging to be let out. Taking the paw that on Vincent's balls and putting it to himself, he undid his zipper and parted the fabric of his underwear, letting his own cock come into view. It was leaking a slight bit of precum, that dripped from his slit and dribbled down the front of his shaft. Kale wrapped his free paw around his own cock, pumping in time with his movement on Vincent's cock. But he didn't do that for long, because he was moving onto other things.

Repositioning himself directly in front of Vincent, he planted his paws firmly on the ground for balance and put his muzzle right before the jackal's cock. He licked slightly at his shaft, sliding his tongue up and down the underside of Vincent's shaft. The canine would jump and jerk slightly when Kale's tongue ran over certain spots, and Kale knew those were the best spots to go for.

At length, he brought his tongue back to Vincent's head and licked at the slit, pushing his tongue down into it as much as he could. Vincent murred, pushing his paws against the back of Kale's head, encouraging him forward. Kale complied, opening his muzzle and taking Vincent's cock into his mouth. Having done it so many times, he could throat all of Vincent in one go, his head pushing down the back of Kale's throat. The lynx licked all over the shaft in his muzzle; so thick and pulsing against his tongue, and he could taste the precum that was leaking down the back of his throat.

"Yeah....that's the spot...," whispered Vincent, pushing his paws against the back of Kale's in the fervor of his ecstasy. The tight warmth of Kale's muzzle, particular the back where his head was getting stimulated, was incredible. He just wanted to cum so hard right into that muzzle, over and over again. It was good, he was actually getting weakened in the knees.

"Wait...I gotta sit down," said Vincent, sheepishly.

Kale relented for a moment, wiping his muzzle, letting the jackal sit down on the ground, which was softened by pine needles that had fallen off the boughs above. Kale crawled up between Vincent's legs, smiling. With their great night vision, they could see each other perfectly, smiling at one another.

Vincent rubbed his cock absently, looking at the feline that had been sucking on it a moment ago. "I feel bad not doing anything for you," remarked Vincent.

Kale shrugged. "It's okay."

Vincent leaned up against Kale, resting his paw on the feline's exposed cock that was still sticking out of his undone zipper. "Oh, come on. You telling me the feline cock doesn't want a little attention?"

Murring, Kale smiled. "M-maybe a little," he stammered. He actually didn't get many people that were worried about getting him off. "But...I haven't been AIDS tested in a few months...I don't know..."

Vincent nuzzled against him. "Then I can just paw you off."

The lynx smiled again. He turned around, straddling himself over Vincent so his cock was above Vincent's chest and the canid's cock was right under his muzzle. His tail waved in the air, and Vincent could see his pink tailhole, even in the darkness, under his serpentine tail, and he found himself wondering how good it would feel to lift that tail and bury his cock deep inside the cat.

But the fantasy was interrupted when he felt the now-familiar warmth on his penis as the lynx's muzzle settled over his cock again, the end of Kale's muzzle going all the way to the base of the canine's cock again. Vincent sighed in pleasure, undoing Kale's pants now and pulling them down to the middle of the lynx's thighs. His furry testicles hung down loosely from the body, and Vincent wanted nothing more than to suck on them, but they were just slightly out of reach of his muzzle from this position. Inverting his paw, he wrapped it around Kale's cock, feeling a slight spasm when his paw first touched it. Pumping up and down, he found himself going fast right off the bat when he was so engrossed in his own revelry. Everything else just went away, and all that was left was the two of them.

Down between his legs, Kale backed off his muzzle from the base of Vincent's cock, wrapping one of his paws around the base and pumping it in time with the bobbing of his head. Saliva and precum dripped out of the corners of Kale's muzzle, slicking up his paw at the base of Vincent's cock. He kept making himself concentrate on his new lover's cock while his own was being pleasured, waves of delight flashing through him. His head was spinning, from the fact that he was here such an amazing male, that his cock was being played with, and that he had another male's cock in his mouth. He involuntarily clenched his butt, stiffening his body out as he felt his testicles tighten up to his body; his orgasm wouldn't be far behind, with all the stimulation he had been giving himself before Vincent had starting touching him.

Vincent also was feeling the beginnings of his climax. The insides of his legs were numb with pleasure, as was the base of his penis. He was surprised his knot had cleared his sheath, and was beginning to think he would cum without it coming out; but that was okay with him right now. His testicles were drawn up right against his body, tingling almost like electricity was running through them. But as his cock was going completely rigid for his orgasm, he felt Kale's cock pulse quickly in his paw, following by the release of his fluids all over Vincent's chest. Vincent smiled at the semen that hit his chest, the milky-white fluid obvious against his shirt. He milked every drop out he could.

Kale felt his orgasm empty out of his body, closing his eyes and continuing to suck off the jackal. But as his own orgasm ended, he felt the slight twinges of a coming climax come through Vincent's cock as well; the sight Kale's semen pulsing onto his chest pushing him over the edge. Vincent moaned and howled in titillation as his cock spasmed, pushing his own semen up through his shaft and right into Kale's muzzle. Kale stopped bobbing his head as the warm fluids rushed into his mouth, sucking as much of it into his muzzle as he could and swallowing it hungrily, some of it dribbling down the sides of his muzzle and Vincent's cock. Every pulse and twinge was just a whole new level of pleasure to Vincent, as he bucked his hips with every shot of semen that left his body. He curled his paws and toes, his head just exploding with joy, and then sliding gently into afterglow.

The lynx turned himself around, laying on top of Vincent, feeling his own slick semen under himself. He kissed Vincent's nose. "I'm glad we did this." Vincent smiled, kissing Kale on the muzzle. Kale frowned. "Aren't you happy, too?"

Vincent laughed and kissed him again. "Very much so. So, do I get a second date?"

"I think I would like that," replied Kale. "Very much so."

The two of them lay there in the darkness, listening to the night around them, neither of them in a hurry to leave the embrace of the other.

"Kale?" started Vincent.

"Yeah?"

"If we're going to be steady...would you do something for me?" asked Vincent.

Kale lifted his head. "Anything."

"Would you get an AIDS test? Y'know...with everything you did, and you said you hadn't had one lately...'

Kale nodded. "Of course. I understand. The really one-hundred percent accurate ones take about a month."

"That's okay; I'm not going anywhere," assured Vincent, smiling.

Kale smiled back. "I hope not." He snuggled up into Vincent's arms, wanting to stay there forever, under the night sky and far from any problems.

***

DJ packed up his bag. It was the day of the first major meet for the year, and he would have to go over and help set up, being the new captain. He hadn't really expected that to be thrust on him this year, but so far it did not seem to be that much of a stressor. He still didn't know what made him stand up and volunteer to be considered for election; maybe it was just Lucas' smug look and attitude, and the thought of putting up with him in charge for another year. Whatever the reason, it was his responsibility now.

He sighed, packing in his speedo. It was the one he and Cody had picked out together last year together when they went to the store to get one. He remembered how much Cody loved to see him in it; and how many times they had snuck into the pool house at night.

Looking over at the bed, he wished the husky was here, now. But, like the rest of the week, he was over at the frat house; and today was the party they were holding for him. Cody had apologized profusely for missing it, but DJ hadn't wanted to hear any of it. His mate had not even come back from classes to wish him good luck; just right to the frat house. They hadn't even had sex most of the week.

DJ sighed again, sitting on the edge of the bed. Who cares? He thought to himself. He could go to his meet by himself; he didn't need his boyfriend there to cheer him on.

Even though he tried to tell himself that was true, he could not make himself get up off of the bed, hoping the husky would come through the door.

***

Cody stood on the white sands of the beach, in nothing but his fiery-red swim trunks. He knew a lot of the girls, and even some of the guys, were looking at him. He still looked good, despite not having worked out in a few months. But he was nice and trim, and muscular. From the corner of his eye, he even caught Greg staring at him for more than a passing moment.

"Got Frisbees, volleyball, soda, food, all sorts of stuff," said Kyle, exuberantly, clapping Cody on the shoulder. "Grab something, haul it on over and let's get going!"

The husky smiled, grabbing one of the coolers and following the rest of the huskies over to a small spot on the beach, where they spread out towels, their stuff, and erected a few beach umbrellas over their heads. Some of the guys ran out with Frisbee, throwing it back and forth to each. Cody sat on one of the towels, looking out over the sands, watching swimmers in the water, and sun bathers on the beach.

Greg sat down next to him, handing Cody a coke. "Wanna go toss a ball around?"

"In a minute," replied Cody. "I just like being in a place like this."

Greg nodded, popping the top on his coke. "We'll probably get a bonfire going around dusk, this is one of the beaches in the area that allows one."

Cody nodded now, looking out at the water, at some of the furs swimming there. A few of them were otters, swimming circles around the other furs like it was nothing. All Cody could think of was DJ, and how he was missing his otter's swim meet.

"Look like there's something on your mind," remarked Greg.

Cody shrugged. "Still feel bad for missing DJ's swim meet; it was the first one of the year, after all."

Greg took a sip of his soda. "There'll be others, don't sweat it. He won't be mad forever."

The husky sighed. "I guess."

Greg stood up, grabbing one of the other Frisbees. "Come on, go long, I'll pass it to you."

Cody smiled weakly, going along with Greg's attempt to get his mind off of things. He ran down the beach, dodging between beach blankets and cubs. Greg threw a perfect, straight throw, Cody catching it in the air, and throwing it back up the beach. He laughed when Greg took a prat fall into the sand, obviously faking that he missed the Frisbee, but it still made Cody giggled. Greg got back on his feet, smiling half out of mock embarrassment, the other half slightly out of flirting. He tossed the Frisbee to Cody again.

After an hour or two of running and playing on the beach, Cody wasn't even thinking about his mate, he and his swim meet long forgotten.

***

It was the third week of October, and the leaves were starting to fall to the earth below them, twilight coming even earlier than it had a month ago. Furs on the campus were starting to leave their dorms in sweaters more often and not leaving the windows in the dorms open as much.

Lance opened the door to the frat house, some dry leaves blowing through the open door with him. He closed the door against the wind, taking his leather jacket off and hanging it on the pegs next to the door. Breathing deeply, he walked into the common room, Greg and one of the other huskies playing a game of air hockey on the new table the frat had gone in together on.

"Hey, Cody," greeted Greg, not looking up, keeping a critical eye on the flat disc flying toward his goal, and blocking it away with his paddle.

"Heya," replied Cody, weakly, flopping down in one of the chairs.

"What's up? Sounds like you had a rough day," remarked Greg.

"Oh, it's just DJ; he's giving me a hassle that we're not spending enough time together. Just because I've been here every day this week, he thinks I'm neglecting him or losing interest, or something, whatever," said Cody, off-handedly.

"Sounds like he's just being a pain," chimed in Eric, the husky Greg was playing with.

"I guess," agreed Cody. He did feel sort of guilty for not spending any of the nights with DJ; he hadn't even had dinner with the otter once this week. But he was spending time with his friends, and DJ had the swim team to keep him occupied, anyway. It wasn't like they both did not have things in their lives keeping them busy.

"I think you just need a good game night," suggested Greg, with a grin. "We're running Halo2 tomorrow, playing with some other frats online. You gonna be here?"

"You bet!" replied Cody. Then he faltered. "But...DJ already made me promise that we'd go to dinner together, and that I'd stay with him tomorrow, and go to his practice the day after."

"So bail," said Eric, simply. "Not like he's your wife, or anything."

Cody laughed. "No, I guess he's not, is he? Okay, I'll be here."

Greg smiled. "Fantastic. You want winner?"

The husky got to his feet. "Sure."

***

Cody opened the door, slipping inside quietly. He figured DJ would be in bed, since it was past eleven, but figured wrong when he saw the otter at the desk, typing on the computer. "Hey, hun," he said, lowly.

"Hi," was all DJ replied with. "How was hanging at the frat?...again," he asked, stressing the 'again.'

"It was okay; he started an air hockey tournament out of nowhere, and I won," answered Cody, undressing and stripping to being nude. He went over and put his arms around DJ, kissing him on the neck. "Um...sweetie?"

DJ was quiet for a moment. "Yes?"

"The guys wanted me to...go over there for game night tomorrow...y'know, Halo 2 and stuff," started Cody, sheepishly. "It starts around four or so, so if we could do dinner the day after..."

"Don't worry about it," responded DJ.

Cody was caught off guard. "Really?"

"I figured you were going to blow me off, so I asked Lance to go to dinner with me instead," stated DJ, turning off the computer and getting up. "So you, my own boyfriend, don't have to worry about spending any time with me." The otter crossed the room without saying another word, climbing into bed. "Night."

"But...but...hun," stammered Cody.

"Good night," repeated DJ.

Cody wasn't sure if he wanted to scream or cry; and he ended up not doing either. He got into bed with DJ, facing away from the otter and laying on the very edge of the bed.

***

DJ knocked on the door, waiting for a moment. The door opened, and there was Lance, in tight-fitting leather pants, a navy-blue shirt with black and white accents, and a few leather bracers. When DJ had told Cody they were going out, he had neglected to tell the husky that they were going to a night club; and the way Cody had been acting lately, he didn't feel even slightly bad about it.

"You look great!" exclaimed DJ when he saw the fox. DJ was dressed like-wise, but he was wearing tight blue jeans instead, and his 'It Ain't Gonna Suck Itself' shirt.

"You really think so?" asked Lance, unsure of himself. "I mean, I kinda really wanna go, but I still feel weird."

DJ took his paw. "Come on, it'll be fun; and it'll get your mind off of things." He looked over Lance's shoulder. "Where's Josh; maybe he wants to come?"

Lance shrugged. "I don't know; he went out somewhere, maybe the pool house to practice."

"Oh; then it's just us!" They walked towards the front of the dorm hall, DJ anxious to get out to a club; he had never been able to talk Cody into going. So when had suggested it to Lance when they were hanging out yesterday, and the fox seemed interested, the otter was very excited. He hadn't thought the fox would want to go, he figured he was still depressed over Race. But it seemed the fox was getting better; maybe he just wanted to go look to get laid.

With the time of year, the sun was already setting over the horizon. Their paws shuffled through fallen leaves as they went to DJ's car, getting in and pulling out of the parking lot.

"So, where is Cody, anyway? Is he still over at that frat?" asked Lance.

DJ sighed, with a slight growl. "Yes."

Lance shifted uncomfortably. "Sorry."

"It's not your fault," replied DJ, driving to the other side of town where the bars and clubs were. "I just...miss him. I miss going to dinner with him, snuggling in bed, having sex, sharing those mom--' He cut himself off, looking over at Lance. "Sorry."

"No, it's okay," assured Lance. "I think I'm starting to get over him now. Maybe a little."

They rode towards the club in silence after that. DJ was still torn up inside about Cody. What if they were going to break up? He'd been thinking about that for about a week; they weren't spending any time together, and even when Cody was around, he barely showed any interest in DJ. DJ just couldn't stand even the idea of them breaking up.

"There it is," said DJ, pointing to a large, purple, neon sign on the right, simply labeled, 'Tilt,' one of the gay clubs in the area.

"Looks popular," observed Lance, seeing all the furries piled outside of it.

"All the more male-candy to look at," replied DJ, with a grin. He pulled the car into a parking lot opposite the club, getting out with Lance. They crossed the street to the club, Lance walking behind DJ. DJ looked over his shoulder at the timid fox. "It's okay; come on."

They passed the bouncer, showing the IDs, and went inside. Instantly, they were greeted by loud techno music, which made Lance wince a bit, but DJ loved it, already subconsciously shaking his tail.

They walked to the left side of the building, where the dance floor and main bar was. The DJ's booth was high up in the back of the room, the bar on the right side of the room. There was a stage opposite the bar, on the other wall, with three dancing males; a stallion, a wolf, and black fox, all down to just pants, which were even unbuckled and unzipped, their toned bodies dancing in rhythm with the music like they were born to it. In the middle of it all was the dance floor, filled with furs jumping and dancing to the music themselves.

"Wow," breathed Lance.

"Yeah," agreed DJ. "Come on, we'll get a drink first."

DJ took Lance by the paw and lead him through the dense crowd to the bar. A young german shepherd leaned across the bar to DJ. "Hey, there, cutie. What can I get for you?"

DJ smiled. "I'll just have a coke. And my friend will take the same."

The shepherd poured their drinks, looking at the two of them from the corner of his eye as he did so. "So, you and your 'friend', here, got a name?"

"I'm DJ and this is Lance," replied the otter. "How about yourself?"

"I'm Skyy," replied the shepherd, with a smile.

DJ laughed. "Like the vodka?"

"Exactly," laughed the shepherd as well. "Is your friend a...good friend?"

"Oh, him?" asked DJ, looking at Lance. "No, we're just out for a good time."

"I don't suppose you have a good friend?" asked the shepherd, handing them their drinks. "You look like the kinda guy I'd like to bring home after a shift."

DJ took the drink, taking a sip and thinking for a minute. "Not tonight, I don't."

"Ohhh, one of THOSE kind of nights, huh?" he remarked, with a sly smile. He scribbled out a number quickly and put it next to DJ's drink. "I get off at one. Look me up if you're still finding yourself single then."

The shepherd wandered off to another customer. The otter picked up the paper, looking idly at the number for a minute.

"You're not really going to call that guy, are you?" asked Lance, over DJ's shoulder.

"No, I wouldn't," answered DJ. "Just sort of nice to flirt sometimes, I guess." He crumpled up the paper and dropped it on the floor, walking away from the bar and finding one of the tables on the edge of the dance floor, setting down his drink. All the clubbers and ravers were still going on the floor, and DJ just wanted to shake his ass.

"I'll be back," said DJ, quickly, and took off onto the dance floor. When he got out there, everything else was gone, and all that was left the beat and the music. He closed his eyes and let himself go. He hadn't been dancing seriously in over a year, since just before he had left high school; and he had ended up taking someone home that night, too. He didn't really want to pick up anyone, and he would never do that to Cody; he was just lonely.

But he was all too aware he was getting looks from some of the furs nearby; running their eyes over his chest, his abs, crotch, and ass, and probably wondering what he looked like naked. But DJ didn't care, all that mattered to him was getting to let go, and release some stress. He ran his paws over his chest, across his stomach, and down the sides of his thighs, bending over ever so slightly and raising his tail just a bit. Several of the males nearby dancing with someone were completely distracted by the otter showing it all.

Back at the table, Lance was absolutely transfixed on DJ. It was like the otter was made of rubber, the way he waved and danced back and forth perfectly in time with the fast music. Lance was even more surprised when DJ was motioning for him to come out there with him. The fox got off his chair and weaved through the crowd to the otter, who was still going strong.

"What did you need me for?" shouted Lance, over the music.

"To not just sit there," shouted DJ back, grabbing Lance's paws and pulling him in close. Their bodies were pressed to one another now, chest to chest, and their crotches almost against one another. "Just let go," whispered DJ in the fox's ears. Lance gulped and started to try and mimic DJ movement, the two of them dancing together. Juking on his paws and weaving his hips around, DJ danced around behind Lance, snaking his arms around the fox's waist. Lance jumped a little, but then settled back into the otter's arms. He moved only slightly now, feeling as though he was melding with DJ. It had been a few months since another male's body had been near his, and it was so good to have that again. DJ moved his paws all over Lance's chest and stomach, grinding his crotch against Lance's ass. Lance murred, letting the music just lead him, giving everything up. He didn't even flinch when DJ's paws went over his hips and down his thighs, coming back up just near the cleft of Lance's butt, and then over the front of his legs, just inches from his sheath under his pants. Lance kept his eyes closed, just barely moving his hips around, grinding against DJ, as the otter pressed his paws against Lance's crotch, gently massaging there. Lance gasped, his jaw going slack; no one had touched there since Race, and it felt so amazing to be reminded of that feeling again.

Lance turned around, facing DJ, pushing himself against the otter, nuzzling into his neck, and rubbing the otter's stomach. DJ replied in kind by cupping his paw over Lance's crotch, gently fondling the fox's balls through his tight pants.

"Mmmmf...DJ...we can't," murmured Lance. "We can't...do this..."

"Why?" muttered DJ, digging his nose into Lance's neck, inhaling his musk.

"Because of Cody," reminded Lance, not wanting to end this, but at the same time, he just couldn't do this. He broke away, leaving the dance floor and going back to the table, drinking down the rest of his

"I'm sorry," said DJ, quietly, putting his paw on Lance's shoulders as he followed the fox over. "I...I don't know what--"

He was cut off when Lance turned and kissed DJ. At first, DJ didn't know what to do, but then he put his arms around the fox, and embraced him. After a month of not having anyone to pay attention to him, or show him they loved him, it was nice to feel another fur's muzzle pressed to his.

"Dammit," muttered DJ, breaking the kiss, but not taking his arms from around Lance. The fox here, he was available, and obviously was into DJ. And apparently a little horny, since DJ could feel the little vulpine's hard-on pressing into his leg, but from the feeling, his cock was anything but little.

"Should...we go back to the dorms?" asked Lance, suddenly feeling awkward, but also feeling so attracted to this male.

DJ smiled. "Yeah, I guess we should."

***

Cody sat on the couch with the rest of the frat house. They were several hours in, and had been beating the other teams pretty well; everyone except Cody, anyway. His deaths had been at least triple his kills all night. He just couldn't keep his mind on the game.

"Everything okay, Cody?" asked Greg, who had been sitting next to him all evening.

"Yeah...," replied Cody. "I guess." He put the controller down. "I'm just gonna sit this one out." He got up and went into the main room, leaning against the wall and sighing. What was he doing? He should be at home, with his mate. This wasn't him at all.

"You don't look that okay," remarked Greg, coming into the room behind him. "This about DJ?"

Cody nodded, not looking at him.

Greg came closer, putting a paw on Cody's. "Regretting coming here tonight?"

"I'm just afraid he's going to break up with me; I've had my priorities so backwards lately," started Cody, "I shouldn't be coming here so much. It's a lot of fun, but...I need to spend more time with him."

Greg put his arms around Cody from behind. "But I like having you here."

The husky looked over his shoulder. "What're you doing?"

"I thought maybe we could cuddle...get to know each better maybe," replied Greg.

Cody broke away from his embrace, turning around with a shocked look on his face. "Well, you thought wrong. You know I'm with D--" He stopped mid-sentence. "Have you been trying to keep me away from him?"

Greg sighed, looking away, then back at Cody. "It wasn't that way at first, honest. But after a couple weeks...you're just so damned attractive. And, I thought if I could keep you away from each other long enough, you'd lose interest in him, or you'd break up, and I could ask you out."

Cody's mouth was actually hanging open. "You're sick. I....I can't believe this!" yelled Cody.

"Cody, I'm sorry, I--" started Greg.

"No. You know what? Just no," spat Cody. 'I'm out of here." He ran to the front door, grabbing his jacket and heading out into the night. He just hoped DJ had come home already.

***

The door opened, and the two of them went in, closing the door behind them. Lance smiled self-consciously. "You were really...into me at the club."

DJ smiled and leaned in, nosing him. "I'm still really into you now." He hugged Lance, licking his cheek as they moved towards the bed. They sat down next to each other, Lance leaning against DJ and putting his arms around DJ's waist. "You're a cutie; I thought you were sort of cute when we first met a few months ago." DJ kissed him on the cheek.

Lance sighed. "I still miss Race."

"I know," replied DJ, quietly.

"You remind me a lot of him," remarked Lance. "Strong, but reserved. Except for tonight."

DJ laughed. "Fair enough." He stroked Lance's headfur. It made him think of all the times he and Cody had lay in bed, and DJ would stroke the canine's fur. And sometimes they would watch the sun rise when they would lie awake all night on weekends, and make love at sunrise. DJ's heart ached for those times again.

"I really wish he would come back," murmured Lance, quietly. "I keep trying to say I'm over him...but I'm not. I can never be. He was mine." Lance sniffled a bit. "It's just nice to have someone here again." He hugged tighter against DJ.

DJ took Lance's paw, squeezing it tightly. Lance sat up again, looking into Cody's eyes. He was so much like Race. And when Lance leaned forward and kissed DJ again, he discovered the otter even kissed like Race, slipping his tongue inside the fox's muzzle, exploring every inch of the interior. They murred as they were locked there lock that, DJ paw running over Lance's crotch, stroking his cock through the leather of the fox's pants. Lance swished his tail in response, putting his paw over DJ's and encouraging him to stroke harder.

They broke their kiss, feeling awkward for a moment. "I...I could take my pants off," suggested Lance, at length.

DJ didn't know what he was doing here. Maybe he was lonely, maybe he was just horny, but whatever it was, he said, "Okay."

Lance stood up, and in the pale illumination in the room that was cast only by lights outside in the quad, the undid the zipper of his pants, slowly taking them off, pushing his pants and boxers to his ankles, stepping out of them. His erection bobbed up and down when he stepped, the full, pink length of his maleness obvious even in the low light.

"You're very handsome," complimented DJ in the darkness. Lance just blushed, holding his paws behind his back and looking at the ground, aware of his penis sticking straight out from his body.

DJ stood up, running his paws over Lance's hips, feeling his thick, soft fur; it was just like Cody's. "I like shy guys, you know." He nuzzled and licked DJ's cheek. "You're very cute." The otter unzipped his own pants, letting them drop to the floor next to Lance's, and stepped out of his own. He stood in front of Lance, his own erection brushing briefly against the fox's; it was an electrifying stimulation for them. DJ took Lance's cock in his paw, pushing it to his, rubbing them together. Lance murred, DJ smiling at the fox's enjoyment. He rubbed the shafts together, then the head, a thin rope of precum forming between them when DJ pulled them apart slightly.

Nuzzling Lance's neck, DJ whispered, "Want to get on the bed?"

Lance sighed with contentment, just nodding silently in agreement.

"Okay then," whispered DJ. He reached around behind Lance, lifting his big, fluffy tail and rubbing the fox's ass with his other paw. "Mmmmm. Go get on the bed."

Lance did as instructed, climbing onto the bed, pausing for a moment to look over his shoulder at the otter, rubbing his own ass with his paw. "I think this is what you want," remarked Lance, with a smile.

DJ grinned, stepping forward, letting his shirt fall to the floor as he stripped it off.

***

Cody opened the door to the male dorms, climbing the stairs. He was hoping DJ was in the dorm; he wanted to talk with him, and tell him he was so sorry, and that they would spend the next six months never apart from each other if that's what it took.

Getting to the top of the stairs, he walked down the hall to his dorm, getting his keys out and putting it in the lock. He could hear voices inside, and frowned; who else would be in there?

He opened the door, light from the hall pooling across the room, and over the bed. No one was there; just the TV had been left on, some re-run from an old show playing. Cody closed the door behind himself and went across the room to turn the TV off. With the box shut off, he was by himself. The dorm was so silent by himself. The husky wished his otter was there.

***

DJ leaned over Lance, the fox in front of the otter on his hands and knees, his tail raised high in the air. DJ could see his soft, pink tailhole at the base of the fox's tail, and his throbbing cock ached to be buried in there. Lance's balls bobbed in between his legs, and his erect cock pointed downward over them, a bit of precum leaking off of it in the fox's anticipation.

The otter was kneeling on the behind the fox. He bent down to fondle Lance's testicle as they swing before him like a pendulum. He could hear Lance take in a sharp breath as his balls were played with. "Been awhile?" asked DJ.

"Mmhmm," answered Lance, just panting like dog.

DJ let go of the fox's balls and moved his muzzle under Lance's tail, licking at Lance's tailhole. The fox groaned as DJ rimmed him, circling the edge of the fox's tailhole with his tongue, then slid it inside of the vulpine, DJ pushing as much of his tongue as he could inside of Lance.

"Oh...God......," murmured Lance, going completely limp and submissive.

Hearing the fox's plaintive moans and whines of pleasure, DJ moved his tongue in and out faster, the slick innards of the fox feeling simultaneously odd and erotic against his tongue.

"Mmmmf...I really want you to take me," susurrated Lance, raising his tail as much as he could.

DJ straightened himself up, his cock perfectly in line with Lance's tailhole, like it was meant to go there. The otter held his cock on his paw, stroking himself easily. It had been a few weeks since he had the opportunity to mount someone; but this wasn't Cody. And could he really sleep with someone that wasn't Cody?

"What's wrong?" asked Lance, looking past his arm at DJ.

DJ shook his head. "Nothing." The otter moved his hips forward, his cockhead resting just against Lance's tailhole, the warmth there against his head feeling nice; he had forgotten just good that felt. Lance balled up the sheets in his paws, closing his eyes as he was slowly penetrated. DJ gasped as his penis was engulfed by Lance's tailhole, the two of them slowly merging into one. Lance threw his head back, and moaned loudly, clenching his tailhole down around DJ's cock, which only stimulated DJ more and made him thrust himself roughly the rest of the way into Lance. The otter was breathing hard, almost raggedly. The warmth that cloistered in around his shaft and head was fantastic; Lance, not having been fucked for a few months, was so tight, and just felt incredible. Every inch of his cock was throbbing with lust, and want to just pound the fox's tight ass.

DJ put his paws on Lance's hips, pulling himself in and out. Lance whimpered, but in pleasure, not pain; it only hurt a little, no more than his first time had so many years ago. It was just so intense and stimulating to feel someone inside of him again, so get that closeness and intimacy back, even if only for a little while. Every time DJ pushed his large otterness back inside of Lance, he stroked the fox's prostate, making Lance's eyes go wide. It was so good. It was like having his balls squeezed and pushed on at the same time, and it made his cock pulse slightly. He wanted to paw off while DJ was mounting him, but he needed both paws to support himself.

But that was answered, when DJ said, "Roll to the side with me" With DJ's cock still inside the fox, the two of them rolled to their left, lying on their sides, Lance raising his left leg in the air with his left paw, and now being able to get his right paw around his cock and give himself a gentle stroking. DJ resumed his fucking, flattening himself like a board against the back of Lance and sliding him back and forth, in and out, faster and faster. The otter wrapped his arms around Lance's chest, putting his muzzle against Lance's back. It all felt so good. There was a creeping numbness in his cock, but he knew that stimulation, not that he was going to cum. He could hear his and Lance's ragged breath as they mated, Lance stroking himself off with DJ's mounting, and that just made DJ more worked up, his thrustings increasing in speed.

"How do you feel?" breathed out Lance, more precum seeping off of his slit.

"Just...fantastic," gasped out DJ. "Ohh! Mmmf...this feels so good."

Lance smiled, glad he was making his temporary bed-mate happy. He did miss sex with Race. He had for months, since the night that Race had walked out on him. Lance had felt it was selfish at the time, and a part of him still did; but he understood why the collie had done it. And where the otter with him now could never take Race's place, it was still nice for now.

DJ kept pushing inside of Lance; he was now drawing himself completely out, up to just before his head would slip out of the fox's tailhole, and then inserting himself until he was hilted. Just that warmth encasing his dick was more pleasure than he could ever remember having, feeling like when he came he was going to explode. He almost never wanted to cum, he just wanted this feeling to go on forever. His head was spinning, and his entire body was tightened, just like his cock. Breeding with this fox was better than anyone he had before. Even Cody.

He could not stop himself from thinking of Cody. The more he tried to push the thought of the blue husky from his mind, the more it forced itself inside. All he could picture was the first time the two of them had made love, and DJ had taken the husky's virginity. He tried to concentrate on the fox, on the feel of his fur under his paw, his tailhole wrapped around the base of the otter's cock, the way he smelled, his slight moans and sibilations of pleasure. But it was to no avail. All he wanted to cum inside the fox, to mark the vulpine as his. But the fox wasn't his; Cody was.

Gasping and moaning, DJ pumped himself in and out at a furious pace; he was almost afraid he would hurt the fox, but Lance kept pace with his masturbating as DJ sped up. He did not seem to mind in the slightest. The otter just kept, clamping his jaws down on the fox's shoulder where his shirt wasn't covering, biting down hard. Lance cried out in pleasure, that feeling of pleasure shooting like a rocket through his body, straight to his penis, where it traveled to his base and testicles, right up his shaft and to his head; and with one more stroke of DJ's penis on his prostate, it was enough to make his cock spasm into an orgasm. His semen came right up through his cock shaft, spurting from his head with such force it went over the side of the bed. Lance groaned in ecstasy, everything from his waist down tingling. Murring gently, he kept stroking himself until he had completely emptied of his fluids, rubbing himself even as the last spasm subsided. He just lay back and enjoyed being fucked, nestling into DJ's arms.

Meanwhile, DJ was grunting as he kept his rhythm, his cock making slight twinges that heralded his own orgasm coming. He still did not want to cum, but knew it was inevitable. He would mark the fox, breeding him hard. His heart was beating so fast, blood rushing through his ears so loud it almost overshadowed his hard breathing. His balls churned with the wanton need to release their seed, and the need was fulfilled as his cock contracted, his semen coming out in thick ropes into Lance. DJ grit his teeth as he unloaded all of his fluids into Lance, his cock shuddering with the force of his orgasm. Some dripped out and down Lance's ass, and to the bed. To Lance, this was a rare occurrence, since Race's knot always kept most of the results of the collie's orgasm inside.

When it was finished, DJ just relaxed, every muscle in his body going limp. He kept his cock inside of Lance, which remained rock hard. Lance put his paw over DJ's, the fox's paw still sticky with semen.

"You're great at that," said Lance, quietly.

"Thanks, I guess," replied DJ, with a laugh. Now that it was over, he just felt gnawing guilt in his gut. How could he have done this to Cody? How would he ever look the husky in the eye again?

"Are you going to stay here?" asked Lance. "You could sleep over here. There's no class tomorrow."

DJ sighed. "I'd love to...but I should go back to my dorm; see if Cody is there."

"Right," agreed Lance, sadly. "Cody."

DJ kissed Lance on the cheek. "Hey. We'll come see you sometime soon, okay? I won't let you be by yourself anymore."

Lance smiled. "I think I'd like that."

"I just don't think we should ever...mention this again. Not even to each other," DJ mentioned. "Just...y'know..."

Lance nodded slowly. "I understand." He would just be one more person's dirty little secret.

Withdrawing himself, DJ got off the bed, collecting his clothes and putting them on. Lance just lay on the bed, watching DJ get redressed, and wanting with every bit of himself to beg and plead the otter to stay, just for one night. But the fox knew, deep down, it wasn't his choice.

"Bye," said DJ, then just turned and opened the door. He almost ran into Josh on his way out, stepping to the side to let the kangaroo in.

"Oh, heya," exclaimed Josh. "What brings you here?"

"Just...um...visiting Lance," DJ replied, quickly. "See ya." And with that, he was gone.

Josh came into the room, turning on the light and closing the door. "What was that all about?" He raised an eyebrow at Lance. "And why are you naked?"

***

DJ opened the door, feeling like criminal covering his tracks. He had gone down to the showers and washed himself thoroughly, especially his sheath and crotch. He was sure that Cody, with his superior sense of smell, would see right through the pathetic cover-up, but it was the best he could do.

The husky was snoring softly in the bed. Good, DJ thought. He could change clothes quickly before his mate noticed anything. He stripped his shirt and pants off as fast as he could. His pants were most of the way off when Cody rolled over, looking at him bleary eyed. "Hun?"

"Yeah, sweetie," replied DJ, taking off his clothes and kicking them under the bed before the husky noticed. He climbed into bed, putting his arms around Cody, and feeling like the biggest bastard on the planet.

"Hi," said Cody, leaning against the otter. "Still mad at me?"

"No, of course not sweetheart," assured DJ; how could he be? The guilt was going to eat him alive. "Hun, I...I have something I think I should tell you."

"No, I do, first," stated Cody, half-awake. "I quit the frat tonight. The owner was purposely trying to keep us apart because he wanted to get with me, and thought it would break us up. I should have been the one to out with you tonight, not Lance."

More than you will ever know, thought DJ. "It's okay, honey. It's just been a...weird few months. Let's just put it behind us, okay?"

Cody nodded. "Okay. Now what did you want to tell me?"

DJ sighed. "You know, it's not important. You just go back to sleep."

The husky rolled back over, laying down on the pillows, and was back out in moments. DJ sighed again, sitting up in bed, knowing he would not be sleeping for a long, long time.

***

Vincent stood with Kale in the hallway of the medical building. They had gotten up at six and sped over there, since Kale's AIDS test results had been delayed for some reason. But now there were there, and nervously waiting. Even though they both were confident the results would be negative, it was always unnerving to get an AIDS test.

The door opened, and a Labrador doctor came over to them. "Kale?"

"Yes?" answered Kale, standing up, Vincent standing up with them the two of them holding one another's paws.

"Son, you may want to come into my office," said the Lab. Kale's stomach dropped into his stomach like a lead weight, and he looked at Vincent with wide eyes.

"Can my boyfriend come with me?" asked Kale.

"He may want to," replied the doctor, cryptically.

The two of them followed obediently behind the doctor, going into his office. The made sure the door was tightly shut, and sat at his desk.

"There's no easy way to say this, and I've discovered the best way to do it is just come out with it; your test was returned positive for the HIV virus," the doctor said, matter-of-factly.

Kale's head just felt light, like it was going to float away, and like his stomach had just dropped somewhere down around his ankles. "I...I...can't believe..."

"Granted we will run a second, conclusive analysis, but these results are ninety-eight percent accurate. The results of the second test will be back in two weeks, but in the meantime I would assume that these results are correct," continued the doctor. He turned to Vincent. "How sexually have you two been?"

"Uh...not very, yet. We just got together. Most just....y'know...playing with paws," answered Vincent, embarrassed to be discussing his sex life so frankly.

"It would be a good idea for you to get tested if you've been having fluid contact at all so far," remarked the doctor. "Have you been HIV tested lately?"

Vincent shook his head. "Not in awhile; haven't been with anyone in awhile. We've just been together for about a month."

"He didn't give it to me," said Kale, numbly. "I was very free with my body last year, before school ended. I was with a lot of guys."

"I guess a list of sexual partners is out then," mumbled the doctor. "That would be about right; according to this, you've been HIV positive for over six months."

"Can anyone else have gotten it from me? I've always been sub--the bottom," Kale corrected himself.

"There's a decresed chance of getting it from being the top, but still hard to say," answered the doctor. "If you've got medical insurance, I would start looking into AIDS suppression medication. It's experimental, and is by no means a cure, but it will at least double your lifespan, and keep it from progressing to AIDS faster."

Kale just nodded, not saying anything.

"Thanks, doctor," Vincent finally spoke. "I'll come back later for my test."

The doctor nodded, leaving them alone. Neither of them said anything, Vincent looking at Kale, and Kale looking at the wall, like something there was utterly fascinating.

"What...what do you want to do?" asked Vincent, at length.

"Can we go home?" asked Kale, barely above a whisper.

"Of course." Vincent tried to take Kale's paw as they left the office, but Kale kept pulling it away; it was like he didn't want to be touched, or was afraid to touch someone else.

"You can't give it to me through your fur, you know," chided Vincent. Kale finally let Vincent take his paw, but made no return when Vincent squeezed the feline's paw.

On the car ride back to the dorms, Kale said nothing, looking out of the window. He didn't sigh, or cry, or yell; just seemed to be accepting it.

"It's okay if you want to say something," remarked Vincent, gently. "If you want to cry, or yell--"

"Do you want me to do those things?" Kale asked, cutting him off, not looking at the jackal.

Vincent hadn't been expecting Kale to snap at him. "No..."

"Then what's the point?"

Vincent didn't say anything after that, just driving to the campus, pulling into the parking lot. They got out of the car, Kale just walking off.

"Hey!" shouted Vincent, jogging to catch up with him. "Do you...I dunno, want to come to my room? I don't think you should be alone right now."

"No," replied Kale, severely. "I never want to see you again."

Vincent just stopped, didn't even keep walking. "W...what?"

"I can't see you anymore!" exclaimed Kale. "I have HIV! I can never be with ANYone ever again!! Do you understand that!?"

"Kale, I...," started Vincent, taking a step towards the lynx, holding his paw out, "I'm here for you. I'm not going anywhere."

"I don't care," muttered Kale, coldly. He turned to walk away.

"Kale, I...please, I love you," pleaded Vincent.

The lynx didn't turn around. "You picked the wrong male to love." And with that, too off running over the quad to the dorms. Vincent briefly thought of chasing after him, but knew it would be for nothing. He needed to sort this out for him. Hopefully, he would come back. Hopefully.

***

Lance rolled over in bed. It was before nine. Josh was sitting in bed, looking at him.

"What?" asked Lance, his eyes only half-open.

"What was going on in here last night?" inquired Josh, critically. "DJ is leaving, and I believe he's mated, and you're in bed naked."

"I don't have to explain that to you," muttered Lance, swinging out of bed, dressed now in at least his boxers.

"If you had a one-nighter, that's fine, you know I've been there myself," said Josh.

"I know better than anyone," retorted Lance.

Josh ignored that. "I just want you to realize what you did."

Lance looked at the roo, not sure if he wanted to hit the kangaroo or yell at him. Instead, he went lower. "So, how's it going getting over Ty?"

Josh frowned. "What's that got to do with it?"

Lance shrugged. "Just reminding you that YOU should know what it can be like trying to cope with losing someone close to you. Yes, I had a one-night stand, but I NEEDED that closeness? Okay!?"

Josh just looked away, getting up from the bed. "Okay."

Lance also looked away, not wanting to cry. But they were interrupted when there was a knock at the door. Lance pulled in his shirt from last night and opened the door. "What?"

"Is there a Lance in this dorm?" asked the lion standing there.

"Yeah, that's me," said Lance.

"There's a visitor here for you; he's in the lobby." The messenger left, Lance closing the door. Who would be here visiting him.

Josh just looked at him. Lance said nothing, pulling on an old pair of jeans and going down the hall. He was still trying to figure out who it was. He knew it wasn't his parents, and the rest of his friends were here at the college. But when he got to the lobby, and saw who it was, nothing else really mattered.

"Race!?" he called across the lobby.

The collie turned, now sporting a pair of glasses on his face. He smiled when he saw the fox, running across the room, pushing right past furs and dodging around furniture. Lance was so stunned, he couldn't move. It felt like a dream, like he was underwater and everything was happening so slowly. Race collided into him, wrapped his arms around the fox. Then time resumed, and Lance could feel he was real, and hugged him back with a sob.

"God, I missed you," cried Lance, burying his face into Race's neck, and not giving a damn who saw them.

"I missed you, too, foxy," whispered Race, holding the fox tighter than he ever had before. "I'll never let go of you again."

Lance pulled his head back, wiping his eyes. "So...you're back...to be with me?"

Race smiled. "There's no one else here I came all the way back for."

Lance jumped up into his arms, Race catching him with a slight, "Ooof!" The fox wagged his tail happily, kissing his mate on the muzzle.

"But, the cancer....?" asked Lance.

"Well, I had to go home and get the new eyewear," answered Race, cocking his head to motion to his glasses. "Or I would've been back a lot sooner. I wanted to call, but they had me in the hospital for awhile when I got back from my traveling, and wouldn't let me."

"It's okay; you're here now. I never want you to go again," said Lance, wrapping his arms around Race's neck.

"I never will again; I promise," replied Race, with a loving smile. He let Lance down out of his arms.

"Are you coming back to the college?" asked Lance when he was back on the ground.

Race shook his head. "No. I'm not going back to college; I don't know what I would major in with...well...this."

"Then, what're we..."

Race smiled. "Already thought of it. Got an off-campus apartment, only two miles down the road, for us to live in. I'll get a job for when you're in class to pay for it; it's just four-hundred a month, a studio apartment."

Lance laughed, happy for the first time in months. "When can I move in?"

"As soon as possible," replied Race, kissing the fox on the forehead. "Let's get your stuff packed now."

"Oh...what about Josh?" thought Lance.

"He's...here?" Race prodded.

"Yeah...he was at my house this summer; he and Ty sort of split. It's a long story." Lance noticed the look Race was giving him. "We didn't have sex."

"No sex?"

"No sex with Josh," Lance half-lied. Now last night just felt like a massive mistake; if he had just waited one more day, his body would still be Race's. Now it felt like he'd been dirtied. The fox now knew what DJ was talking about when he said they shouldn't mention it to anyone, or even themselves.

"Well, I guess Josh will stay here. There's not really enough room for more than the two of us," said Race.

"But...he's in a really bad way," murmured Lance. "Like I was..."

Race sighed. "There's nothing I can really do sweetie"

Lance looked away. "I know. Was just hoping..."

"The important thing is WE are together," Race reminded him, putting his paws on Lance's shoulders. "Right?"

Lance looked him in the eye again; those beautiful eyes, that were all his again. "Right."

Race smiled. "Okay. Then let's go get your things."

***

Ty squealed as Matt nuzzled into his neck. "Stop it!! That tickles!"

Matt laughed. "I know, silly, that's why I'm doing it!" And resumed making his leopard giggle.

They were interrupted, though, when the phone rang. Ty fended the otter off long enough to pick it up, trying to make himself not chortle as he did. "Hello?"

"Ty? It's Lance."

"Oh, hey," said Ty, giggled as Matt came over behind him and put his arms around the leopard. "What's up?"

"I've sort of...got news," started Lance, "and it's not easy to say."

"Is everything okay?" asked Ty, motioning for Matt to be quiet for a moment.

"It's..." Lance stopped. "Ty, Josh is alive."

The words Lance was saying almost didn't seem to process for a second. "What?"

"Josh is here, with me, alive; he has been since August, when he came home and saw you with someone else," Lance explained. "He refuses to tell you himself, and I'm about to leave the dorms and live with Race, so I...I don't know. I just thought you should know. He misses you."

Ty was speechless. "I...I have to go." He set the phone into the cradle, not quite sure what to say.

"Well, who was it?" asked Matt.

"Lance. He...I...," stuttered Ty. "Josh is alive."

Matt raised his eyebrows. "He's what?"

"Apparently he came home, and saw us together, and took off," continued Ty, in a level voice. He didn't even feel like he was speaking himself, that someone else, far away, was saying those words, and living this moment. Josh was...alive? And he'd never even told him. How could he do that!?

"Are you...going to see him?" inquired Matt, lowly, almost afraid of the answer.

"I...I don't know," answered Ty, honestly. He shifted in the seat, so he was lying down, just staring at the ceiling. "I just don't know."

***

It was late in the day, and Cody and DJ were settling in for the evening. They were enjoying a homework-free evening, so they all the time they wanted to themselves.

"When is your next swim meet?" asked Cody, picking up some of his dirty clothes and putting them in his basket for laundry tomorrow.

"In a couple days," answered DJ, rummaging around for a Chinese take-out menu. "You gonna come?"

Cody smiled. "Wouldn't miss it."

DJ was happy Cody wanted to come to his meet, but was still wracked with guilt every time the husky did something nice for him. The only thing DJ felt he deserved from Cody was a kick in the face. He knew someday he would have to tell Cody what he did, as much as at the time he insisted to himself he wouldn't.

"Cody, I...remember the other night I came home late, there was something I wanted to tell you?" started DJ.

"Yeah?" replied Cody, looking up from his clothes gathering.

"Well, what I was going to say what that Lance and I...when we were out at the club we started--"

He was interrupted by a knock at the door. Cody looked at him funny for a second, then went to the door, opening it. On the other side was an elder husky, with cobalt-blue fur, dressed in a black shirt and khakis, his gentle green eyes looking on Cody.

"Can I...help you?" asked Cody.

"Are you Cody?" asked the husky.

"Yeah, that's me; what's this about?"

"They wanted me to wait downstairs and page you, but I insisted on coming up; when I told them who I was and why I'm here, they let me right up," explained the husky.

Cody was suddenly nervous. Police? Had something happened? "So...who are you?"

The husky smiled. "Cody...son...I'm your real father."

_______________________________________________________

One more part to go. Part 11 of Into the Sun, titularly titled "Into the Sun," will hopefully be along soon. Comments are always appreciated, or email can be sent to [email protected] =3